“This is the exact epitome of the Braves’ season.”
Six-Run Lead Flushed
I’ll save you all the nice intro. If you want to see how to blow a six-run ninth-inning lead, the Braves gave a masterclass today. Atlanta had me believing. The offense finally showed up, putting 10 runs on the board — base hits, smart situational play, home runs. For once, they looked like a team. Had me fooled again.
The bullpen was fine early. Then they detonated — giving up SEVEN RUNS IN THE NINTH. How does that happen? Who’s taking ownership? Blewett? Iglesias? Snitker? Anyone? All Snitker had to say pretty much was that “guys have to do their job,” or something close to that. Yeah — no kidding. And the hope-for-a-turnaround speech? It’s worn out. Most fans aren’t buying it anymore. It just sounds good.
This Braves organization needs real change. Not a third base coach scapegoat. This Braves roster is supposed to be good, and they finally looked the part for eight innings — only for one disaster frame to blow it to pieces. This collapse in Truist Park was the clearest representation of what this season has been. Usually, the Braves wait until the next game to derail momentum. Today, they did it all in one inning.
Atlanta came in trying to avoid a sweep on getaway day, with Grant Holmes on the mound. The concern wasn’t pitching — it was the offense. Chris Sale’s brilliant outing last night was wasted because of the same offensive inconsistency that has plagued the team all season.
Holmes started strong. He retired Arizona in order, even striking out Ketel Marte — who entered the day 4-for-7 with two homers in the series — on an 85 mph slider.
Atlanta’s first inning was another quiet one, ending with an Austin Riley strikeout, but Holmes came right back with another clean frame, striking out Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez back-to-back. Suárez, who torched Holmes in April with three homers in one game, looked completely lost this time, but just wait.
Pfaadt had handled the Braves in April, but his last outing was a disaster. Atlanta made sure he had another rough one today. With two outs in the second, Ozzie Albies walked and took second on a wild pitch. Alex Verdugo then roped an RBI double, putting the Braves on the board 1-0.
Then came the third inning — a breakout. Ronald Acuña Jr. walked. Drake Baldwin reached on a fielder’s choice and hustle play. Riley brought Acuña Jr. home with a single. Matt Olson followed with an RBI double. Then Ozuna punched a two-RBI double to make it 5-0. Albies capped it with a double of his own to score Ozuna. Just like that, 6-0 Braves.
Momentum didn’t last. Holmes gave up back-to-back walks to Carroll and Marte to start the fourth. Geraldo Perdomo and Josh Naylor delivered RBIs, and suddenly it was 6-3. Holmes was pulled for Aaron Bummer. A wise move in theory — in a game you can’t afford to let slip, early damage control is key.
Drake Baldwin helped end the inning with a perfect throw to second, gunning down Tim Tawa — his third straight caught stealing. The rookie continues to make plays behind the plate.
Riley helped shift momentum back, launching a solo homer in the fifth — his 11th of the season. If the Braves have any hope of turning things around, Riley has to be at the center of it.
Bummer pitched well through 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and striking out one before turning it over to Enyel De Los Santos, who gave the Braves two shutout innings.
Then, fireworks in the bottom of the sixth. Acuña Jr. and Baldwin went back-to-back with solo shots, and the Braves led 9-3. Everything was working — this looked like a complete game. The bullpen was effective, the offense was electric. This was the team fans have waited to see. Michael Harris II even added on an RBI-single in the eighth to score Nick Allen, who had doubled. Everyone was feasting today in the lineup.
In the eighth, Scott Blewett came in. De Los Santos had done his job — Blewett did not. He gave up a solo homer to Ketel Marte, then allowed two more in the ninth to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas. That trimmed the lead to 10-7. Still, even then, it felt manageable.
But then Blewett walked Jose Herrera. Enter Raisel Iglesias.
Iglesias, who has not been sharp all season, looked shaky again. Corbin Carroll doubled. Marte singled to drive in Herrera. It was 10-8. Perdomo popped out, but Ildemaro Vargas brought in another run with an RBI single. Then Eugenio Suárez, of all people, roped a double to score two more. The Braves did nothing in the bottom, as former Braves pitcher, Shelby Miller, retired Atlanta and got the save.
Final score: 11-10, Diamondbacks.
Seven runs. Ninth inning. At home. In a game you had full control of. You tell me what that says about this team.
Today is not the day for it’s baseball or it happens. It should be a day when answers and changes are demanded, but we all know that is asking for a lot from this franchise. I am normally an even-keeled person, but today was just inexcusable and an all-time choke job.
Today is not the day for it’s baseball or it happens. It should be a day when answers and changes are demanded, but we all know that is asking for a lot from this franchise. I am normally an even-keeled person, but today was just inexcusable and an all-time choke job.
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