Drew Smyly struggled early but the Atlanta Braves’ offense remained dormant against Madison Bumgarner who tossed a seven-inning no-hitter in a 7-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After totaling one hit in a 5-0 shutout loss in the first game of the doubleheader, the last thing the Atlanta Braves needed was to fall behind early again. Yet that was exactly the situation that they found themselves in quickly in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader.
Drew Smyly was making his first start since April 11 and was greeted rudely by Pavin Smith who launched a homer to right on the game’s first pitch to stake the Diamondbacks to an early 1-0 lead. Smyly then walked Carson Kelly who advanced all the way to third on a double by Asdrubal Cabrera. Eduardo Escobar flew out for the first out and Wyatt Mathisen then grounded sharply to Dansby Swanson who made a nice diving stop and throw for the second out. Kelly scored on the play to make it 2-0.
Smyly’s troubles would continue as David Peralta jumped on a 1-2 pitch and drove it out to center to increase the lead to 4-0. Nick Ahmed then grounded what should have been the third out to Austin Riley at third but he airmailed the throw to prolong the inning. Josh Rojas would make the Braves pay with a two out double to right to increase the lead to 5-0. Smyly then got Bumgarner to fly out to bring the inning to a merciful end.
Smyly allowed a line drive home run to left by Escobar that pushed the lead to 6-0.
He would exit after the fourth having allowed six hits, six runs (five earned) and two walks over four innings. Smyly allowed three more homers and has now allowed six in just 15 innings this season.
Arizona tacked on another run in the sixth when Ahmed led off the inning with a double off of Josh Tomlin and came around to score on a single by Josh Rojas to make it 7-0.
While Smyly put them in an early hole, Atlanta’s offense continued its slumber against Bumgarner. After recording just one hit against Gallen in Game 1, Bumgarner held the Braves hitless over seven innings. Atlanta’s only baserunner came in the second inning when Albies reached on a throwing error by Ahmed and was promptly erased on a double play.
The Braves managed just one hit in the doubleheader and were outscored 12-0 on the day. They are now 9-12 on the season and will continue their homestand on Monday when they open a four-game set against the Chicago Cubs.