The Atlanta Braves have put together some (very) frustrating stretches of baseball in the recent past but the active string of performances would be high on the list. On a day that featured missed opportunities, untimely hitting and the inability to finish innings, the Braves fell to the Houston Astros by a final score of 4-2 and that defeat qualified as the sixth consecutive negative result for Atlanta.
For the first time in eight games, the Braves didn't allow a first-inning run and that broke an ominous trend that provided some optimism. Offensively, though, Atlanta placed four base-runners on within the first three innings but none crossed the plate and that would foreshadow doom in the future.
With the bases empty and two out (this will become a trend) in the third inning, Braves starter Jaime Garcia allowed a single and an immediate RBI double from George Springer and, in a flash, the road team trailed, 1-0. Seemingly on cue, Freddie Freeman blasted a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning and that leveled the margin.
In fact, the Braves looked to have a big-time rally building but a double play ball from the bat of Nick Markakis seemed to quell that upward trajectory. Fortunately, Adonis Garcia took a pitch over the wall (against a right-hander!) with two out to give Atlanta their one and only lead of the day at 2-1.
While Garcia nearly gave it back with an error in the bottom of the inning, the Braves wiggled off the hook but a similar fate did not arrive in what would be a tragic fifth frame. A double play left the bases empty with two outs (hello, again) but, after a single and a walk allowed by Jaime Garcia, Carlos Correa smacked a two-run double that gave Houston a lead they would never relinquish.
Later in the inning, Yuli Gurriel produced an RBI single that brought the game to its final 4-2 margin and the Braves couldn’t close the gap. The best opportunity (by far) came in the eighth inning, as the Astros loaded the bases with a purposeful, yet unintentional, walk to Freddie Freeman in an effort to pitch to Matt Kemp with two out and the game in the balance.
Kemp then became the third strikeout victim of the inning, failing to check his swing on the third strike, and that was the end of that. Houston closer Ken Giles entered to slam the door in the top of the ninth and the 4-2 margin was preserved with the Braves on the wrong side.
In terms of positives, Freddie Freeman reached base twice (again) to go along with his home run and Adonis Garcia’s big fly looked to be crucial at the time. Beyond, Dansby Swanson showed signs of life with a single and a walk in three trips and the bullpen duo of Jason Motte and Arodys Vizcaino navigated two scoreless frames.
It was not enough, however, and the Atlanta Braves will continue to search for answers with another off day on Thursday. The next stop will be Miami for a weekend foray against the Marlins and, at that point, perhaps Brian Snitker’s team can right the ship. Stay tuned.
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