The Atlanta Braves took on the Chicago Cubs looking for a spark after a disappointing series against the Phillies. Spencer Strider has had a rough go of it as of late, but his last start was solid. The Cubs offense has been struggling recently so it was going to be interesting to see how these two teams matched up.
The Braves got the offense going early. After Profar flied out, Olson hit a rocket off the bat that ended up falling for a single. Ronald Acuña Jr. had a soft line out, but then Baldwin walked to put two on. Ozzie Albies stayed hot and singled down the line that hit the wall just right to prevent a double. Olson scored to make the score 1-0. Harris then hit a line drive to center that Pete Crow-Armstrong almost overran and then did a crazy fall backwards catch to prevent more runs to end the top of the inning.
Spencer Strider started off the game with a bang by striking out Busch on four pitches. Tucker then had a soft groundout. Sukuki was able to get on with a single and then stole second base, but Strider kept his composure and got Happ to groundout to Albies to end the inning.
In the second inning Alvarez grounded out, but Fraley walked. Fraley has dominated the Cubs’ starter Rea for his career with a 1.571 OPS in twelve at-bats before this game. Unfortunately, Fraley’s steal attempt was not successful. Allen then did what he does quite often, and struck out. Good news for Braves fans, the Braves picked up their SS for next season in Ha-Seong Kim today, should he pick up his player option.
Spencer Strider did not pick up anymore strikeouts in the second, but he seems to have shifted his approach to getting groundouts. He was able to pick up two more this inning and having a one-two-three inning. The Braves came in hot in the third inning. Profar struck out, but then Olson walked, Acuña was hit by a pitch yet again, and Baldwin stayed hot and hit a single to load the bases. Albies hit into a force out to the catcher, so it was beginning to look like the Braves would not score. Michael Harris would not be denied. He hit a long single where he appeared to have some luck go his way. There appeared to be some confusion in the outfield and the ball dropped after Tucker hesitated and then missed the ball on a delayed dive. This resulted in two runs for the Braves to make the score 3-0.
Harris got picked off on first, but he did his damage.
Strider took the mound in the third and yet again was able to produce a ground out. This time to old friend Dansby Swanson. Shaw walked, but then Busch lined out. Baldwin was not able to stop the runner again and Shaw moved up to second on a steal. Fortunately, Strider picked up his fifth groundout of the game and ended the inning.
In the fourth Alvarez singled, but that was the only offense for the Braves. Spencer Strider showed some signs of struggle in the fourth inning. Suzuki flied out, but then Ian Happ took him deep on a no doubter that was 107.8 MPH off the bat. Nico Hoerner, who has been an underrated star for the Cubs this season, then doubled. Strider then went for the pickoff move on Hoerner. Initially he was ruled safe, but after a challenge the play was overturned and Strider did get the out. Strider then walked Kelly, but got PCA to to fly out.
Taylor Rogers came in to replace Rea in the fifth. This was likely not the right move for the Cubs because the Braves went to work. Olson and Acuña were sat down, but then Baldwin singled, followed by Albies hitting a double. Harris decided he wanted to add on to his RBI total and hit a double to score two more.
Alvarez then followed that up with a double of his own making the score 6-1. Fraley struck out, but again the Braves brought on the damage. Strider struggled again a bit in the fifth inning. Swanson walked followed by a Straw double to score Swanson to make the score 6-2. After a mound visit, Strider settled down. Busch grounded out for Strider’s sixth groundout of the game. The next two hitters flied out with Suzuki just missing one that Harris made an exceptional play on to end the inning.
Newly added Aaron Civale came in to pitch the sixth inning and was able to quiet the Braves’ offense. He got Allen to ground out and then struck out Olson and Profar. Strider came out again for the sixth, but immediately gave up a single. He was wisely replaced. However, the choice of Hunter Stratton was interesting to say the least. Strider ended his afternoon with 5.0 innings pitched and recorded three walks to only one strikeout and gave up three earned runs on five hits. After a full count, Stratton was able to get Hoerner to ground into a force out. After another full count, Kelly lined out. PCA then singled and former Braves fan favorite Dansby Swanson doubled to make the score 6-4. After a mound visit Stratton was able to get Shaw to pop up to finally end the inning.
Civale stayed in the game for the Cubs to pitch the seventh and continued to look sharp. He struck out Acuña and Baldwin, to include Baldwin’s being on three pitches. Albies was able to fight him to a full count, but then lined out to CF.
Dylan Lee came in to pitch the seventh and looked great. Justin Turner pinch hit for Busch and grounded out. Lee then struck out the next two hitters. In the eighth it looked like the Braves may get something going to reagin the lead. After a Harris pop up Alvarez was hit by a pitch that looked like it may have injured him, but he stayed in the game. Fraley lined out, but then Nick Allen hit a single to put runners on the corners with two outs. Profar then flied out to center to end the top of the inning.
The bottom of the eighth is where the game really started to go south for the Braves. The Braves brought in Pierce Johnson with a two run lead. Happ singled. Hoerner struck out, but then the Cubs stole their third base of the game when Happ moved to second. Carson Kelly then hit a two run shot and tied the game. With one swing, the Cubs’ win probability jumped 37.4 percent. Johnson then was able to end the inning on two line outs.
Brad Keller then came in the game for the Cubs to pitch the top of the ninth. Olson and Acuña were sat down, but then Baldwin and Williams walked. Luke Williams ran for Baldwin, which made sense for two reasons. Better base runner and Baldwin was struggling to stop steals today. Unfortunately, the early game hero Michael Harris struck out to end the Braves’ half of the inning with two runners on.
Murphy came in to catch since Williams ran for Baldwin. In another odd bullpen choice, John Brebbia came in to pitch for the Braves. He gave up a single right away and then he faced brand new Cub, Carlos Santana who hit for Justin Turner. Brebbia was able to get the strikeout. He then got Tucker and Sukuki to fly out to end the bottom of the ninth to move the game to extra innings.
The Cubs brought in Andrew Kittredge for the tenth. With Harris as he runner on second, Alvarez moved him over to third on a sac bunt. Jake Fraley struck out. With two outs the Braves pinch hit Marcell Ozuna for Nick Allen. Ozuna could not get it done and struck out.
Vidal Bruján came in to to play shortstop since Ozuna hit for Allen. Brebbia stayed in to pitch the tenth. He was able to get one of the hottest hitters of the game, Ian Happ, to strike out. Hoerner, who had a double earler, grounded out to move the runner to third. Carson Kelly, who already tied the gave with his HR then came up to bat. On the first pitch he saw from Brebbia he hit a single to walk it off.
Spencer Strider and the offense did their job for the most part today, but some odd bullpen choices and failure of the bullpen in general were the culprit today.
The Braves have lost another one run game. No other team in MLB has played in more one run games than the Braves. No other team has lost as many either.
The Braves will play the Cubs again tomorrow at 7:40 EDT.
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