Spring Training: Offense Silent, Grand Slam Dooms Braves in 7-0 loss to Yankees

A first-inning grand slam doomed the Atlanta Braves in its second Spring Training game against the New York Yankees. The offense was silent throughout the game as well, with only five baserunners in the entire game.

Early grand slam doomed Bryce Elder early

After the Braves went down in order to start the first, the Yankees started the bottom of the first with a bang.

Gleyber Torres, Aaron Judge, and Aaron Hicks hit consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs to bring the catcher, Jose Trevino up to the plate.

After getting behind 2-0, Elder cruised in a sinker that Trevino crushed to left field for a grand slam to make it 4-0.

Elder walked Oswald Peraza, but was able to get a fly out and a double play to limit the damage to just the grand slam.

Elder was able to get the first two batters out in the bottom of the second but was replaced by Matt Swarmer after throwing 37 pitches. Swarmer would allow a single and walk a batter in his third of an inning but didn't allow a run.

Braves bats go silent

The Braves struck out five times against the Yankees starter, Clarke Schmidt, in his two innings of work.

Kevin Pillar was the first Braves' batter to reach, getting on thanks to an error by Wilmer Difo in the 4th. Orlando Arcia would follow with a walk, but a Marcell Ozuna strikeout, Sam Hilliard flyout, and a pickoff of Pillar at second ended the threat.

Hilliard would end the no-hit bid in the top of the 7th on a single with two outs, but he'd be erased five pitches later on a caught stealing.

The Braves would only have two more batters reach the rest of the game. Forrest Wall drew a two-out walk in the 8th and Carlos Sanchez took a leadoff walk to begin the 9th. However, Cody Milligan, Adeiny Hechavarria, and Luke Waddell would go down in order afterward to end the game.

Braves get strong pitching from relief relievers

After Elder exited in the second, the bullpen only allowed seven baserunners and three runs the rest of the game. Seth Elledge was charged for all three runs that scored in the bottom of the 6th, as the Yankees hit back-to-back one-out singles, and then followed a strikeout with back-to-back doubles, bringing the game to the 7-0 final score.

Dylan Lee, Yacksel Ríos, Brian Moran, Roddery Muñoz, and Blake Burkhalter all pitched scoreless innings in their relief appearances, striking out seven batters in five innings, while only allowing three baserunners.

This game, as disappointing as it was, featured only two potential Opening Day starters (Marcell Ozuna and Orlando Arcia) and ended far less controversial than the first Spring Training game of the year.

The Braves take on the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow at 1:05, with Max Fried taking the bump at CoolToday Park.