Battery Power - NLDS Game 2: Braves 3, Brewers 0Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2022-10-13T10:12:30-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/224845242022-10-13T10:12:30-04:002022-10-13T10:12:30-04:00Offense flips the script, Kyle Wright dazzles as Braves even NLDS with Phillies
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<figcaption>Dansby Swanson scored one of three runs the Braves manufactured on ground balls in the sixth inning. | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Plus, Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson made the spectacular commonplace, as Atlanta won 3-0 in Game 2</p> <p id="9JxkTh"><strong>ATLANTA</strong> — The spark can come in the most unlikely — and painful — of ways.</p>
<p id="YD1vQ6">Ronald Acuña Jr. was doubled over, surrounded by manager Brian Snitker and <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> medical staff, the right fielder just plunked in the elbow by a 95.9 mph sinker from <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> starter Zack Wheeler during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s Game 2 of the National League Division Series. The right-hander Wheeler was dealing, having retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced, and the Braves hadn’t advanced a runner past first base.</p>
<p id="PwrieU">But the Braves weathered that moment, and the weather itself, after a three-hour rain delay. After a few minutes with his manager and trainers, Acuña stayed in the game, and suddenly Atlanta had its opening vs. the former All-Star Wheeler. </p>
<p id="izh3Wa">Two batters later, Acuña crossed the plate as Atlanta took its first lead of the best-of-five en route to a 3-0 win that evened the series as it shifts to Philadelphia, beginning Friday.</p>
<p id="MzLd3V">“He’s just kind of that electric guy that does have that penchant for igniting things especially this time of year when he gets on,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It’s pretty good to get those guys coming in behind him.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Acuña is going to stay in this game! <a href="https://t.co/lTKqfnY80s">pic.twitter.com/lTKqfnY80s</a></p>— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1580366395174313985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a>
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<p id="c9nKDq">After the Phillies stole the series opener, the Braves could ill afford to fall further behind. Atlanta is a mere 2-9 in series in which it dropped Game 2, but are 13-7 when it takes the second game, including last year’s NLDS vs. the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Milwaukee Brewers</a> after losing Game 1.</p>
<p id="WihqC2">Now it’s on to Citizens Bank Park — which will host its first postseason game since 2011 — with the question remaining as to who will get the start for the Braves in Game 3. Will it be rookie phenom Spencer Strider, who coming off his oblique injury? Will it be veteran Charlie Morton, who has the postseason pedigree but a 5.47 ERA vs. the Phillies this season?</p>
<p id="7dpp4S">For now, Snitker’s not saying.</p>
<p id="coT4RO">“(We’re looking at) a few guys,” the manager said, drawing laughter. “We have some options.”</p>
<p id="kN8gJk">And now some momentum after a win where the offense rewrote its season long script, starter Kyle Wright dominated and Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson made the spectacular defensive play commonplace.</p>
<p id="4rLhLc">Let’s take Three Cuts after the Braves’ Game 2 victory.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matty O!<a href="https://twitter.com/mattolson21?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mattolson21</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Back2Battle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Back2Battle</a> <a href="https://t.co/iKWT4vLqHD">pic.twitter.com/iKWT4vLqHD</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1580367786731192320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a>
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<h2 id="BRcD7F">1. Who needs power? Braves flip the script</h2>
<p id="96Ddj7">Ground ball. Ground ball. Ground ball.</p>
<p id="j5sm6V">For a Braves lineup that hit more home runs than any team in the NL, and had the fewest games and the fewest wins across the majors without a homer, they rewrote that script over a three-run sixth inning.</p>
<p id="6ZQZZI">“I think it’s the beauty of playoff baseball,” said shortstop Dansby Swanson. “Everything goes out the window this time of year. You’ve just got to find ways to make things happen. ... (Wednesday) is an example of that.</p>
<p id="2lDOCX">“Obviously, our pitching was spectacular. You can’t say enough about that and I felt like we made all the plays that we needed to make on defense. It was just an all-around great baseball performance. And come postseason, man, it’s all about pitching, defense and timely hitting. I felt we checked all those boxes tonight.”</p>
<p id="Oq4Ji4">Boxes may have been checked, but not the ones we’ve come to expect from these Braves. </p>
<p id="B5WPWm">An MLB-best 91 of their wins came when they homered at least once and they were 10-16 when they failed to homer, a .278 winning percentage that was 22nd in MLB and the worst of any postseason team. But they went small ball after Wheeler hit Acuña. Swanson drew a six-pitch walk and Matt Olson followed with an RBI single that hit off Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins glove to score Acuña.</p>
<p id="kcNHqw">Back-to-back singles from Riley and Travis d’Arnaud extended the lead to 3-0, with all three of those hits in the inning of the ground ball variety. Consider that another casting aside of those expectations that come from watching the last six months and 162 games. The Braves ended the regular season 19th in ground-ball rate (42 percent). </p>
<p id="Q2tpbV">“There were some really good at-bats,” Snitker said. “It was tough sledding there for a long, long time. And we kind of, things went our way there with Matt’s hit and Austin’s. And Travis had just kind of three well-placed balls.”</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kyle Wright shoved on the postseason stage (again) <a href="https://t.co/d5d88sdofo">pic.twitter.com/d5d88sdofo</a></p>— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) <a href="https://twitter.com/BravesOnBally/status/1580371209845280769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a>
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<h2 id="dyMywA">2. All Wright, All Wright, All Wright</h2>
<p id="AFTBrh">A day after their ace had the shortest and shakiest postseason start of his career, Wright followed with the kind of outing that’s fueled his breakout season.</p>
<p id="bH9AgK">The right-hander delivered six shutout innings, allowing two hits with six strikeouts and a walk as Wright danced his way out of trouble. It was a much-needed outing after the Phillies got to Max Fried for six runs, four of them earned, in Tuesday’s 7-6 loss.</p>
<p id="7Wi07f">Third among NL starters in stranding 78.9 percent of runners — trailing only the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>’ Julio Urias (86.6) and <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a>’ Joe Musgrove (79.8) — Wright found a response each time the Phillies reached.</p>
<p id="DAzKcm">Bryce Harper started the second with a double, but was stuck at third as Wright fanned Brandon Marsh to end that inning; J.T. Realmuto got no further than first after a one-out single in the fourth; and after issuing a leadoff walk to Marsh in the fifth, Wright struck out Jean Segura and induced a Bryson Stott pop out to end that threat.</p>
<p id="TnJM63">Wright generated a 31 percent whiff rate on his 83 pitches, nearly five percent better than his season average, and had Phillies coming up empty on seven of their 20 swings on his curveball (35 percent), a rate that was a tick better than that pitch’s average (33.5). He had Segura bewildered in that strikeout, fanning him on three straight curves.</p>
<p id="KVIYzT">“My last couple of outings it’s been a little off,” Wright said of his curveball. “We spent a little extra time this week trying to get it back to where it was early in the year. And for the most part I was able to do that. Got a little more sweep to it.</p>
<p id="rAHVFl">“And to that at-bat, Segura, I was able to throw some really good ones to get him to chase off the plate. I have a lot of trust in it.”</p>
<p id="aa2vep">Much has been made of the growth that Wright has shown over the last two seasons, and it was clear when stacked against the last time he started a postseason game. That came in Game 3 of the 2020 NL Championship Series vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, when Wright didn’t even make it out of the first inning. </p>
<p id="Jh11x9">“Before I came in (to the interview room) I joked, I said ‘My last postseason start I think I went (2/3) innings and seven runs,” Wright said. “This was a good one for me. It’s a small thing but just kind of checking off another box.</p>
<p id="y00SSA">“I had success in the postseason last year, but to do it as a start, that was pretty cool to me. I think I’ve worked on a lot of things this year. Really just goes back to confidence. I feel I had the confidence to pitch at this stage. They’re a really good lineup and I knew that. But I knew if I executed then I was going to give myself a chance. And I really believe that.”</p>
<p id="k8Xui8">If there was any question how the MLB wins leader was going to follow up his breakout, he answered it in emphatic fashion. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A mere .120 xBA on the Realmuto pop fly, but if Swanson isn’t getting to this ball, no one is. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Postseason?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Postseason</a> <a href="https://t.co/uyjbHDtLL1">pic.twitter.com/uyjbHDtLL1</a></p>— Cory McCartney (@coryjmccartney) <a href="https://twitter.com/coryjmccartney/status/1580364226123599873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a>
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<h2 id="uw59V2">3. Making the spectacular commonplace </h2>
<p id="dwEf7u">Get used to seeing Swanson’s over-the-shoulder grab and Riley’s tumble-over-the-tarp catch, because those defensive gems are about to become highlight fixtures. </p>
<p id="obmdkj">Realmuto’s two-out, sixth-inning pop up seemed destined to drop in for a hit as the shortstop Swanson, center fielder Michael Harris II and left fielder Eddie Rosario converged on it in shallow left-center. The batted ball had a mere .120 xBA, but neither outfielder was going to be able to make the catch.</p>
<p id="JAjDCn">If Swanson couldn’t get to that ball, nobody was.</p>
<p id="2X1PlL">He made a spectacular catch, tumbling forward and extending his his glove, the ball inside, as he lay on his back. </p>
<p id="3zR8Yt">“Well, I was trying to throw a flag on myself because I feel like I made it look way harder than it needed to be,” Swanson said. “I was running out there, and I felt like, maybe because it was it was a breaking ball, but it kind of like kept spinning away from me, and I slowed down just enough to check Rosario to see where he was so that we didn’t have a collision, and once he just kind of looked at me, like, ‘Hey, brother, it’s yours or nobody’s, I just went for it.”</p>
<p id="71CjEU">It was a sensational play .. and then Riley followed with one of his own.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">You’re going to see replays of this Austin Riley catch forever and ever. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Postseason?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Postseason</a> <a href="https://t.co/M9dhw8m0tK">pic.twitter.com/M9dhw8m0tK</a></p>— Cory McCartney (@coryjmccartney) <a href="https://twitter.com/coryjmccartney/status/1580377039193767936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a>
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<p id="tqGJCI">Bryson Stott’s eight-inning foul ball was headed toward the rolled up tarp along the third baseline and Riley, at a full sprint from third base, collided with the tarp as he hauled in the ball, his back smacking against it as he fell to the dirt. Riley jumped up and hit his chest as Eddie Rosario met him to celebrate. </p>
<p id="x8h4Fw">Both were fantastic but which one was better?</p>
<p id="ZVjJ3n">“I’ll say (Riley’s) was better,” Swanson said. “I didn’t have to dodge a tarp.”</p>
<p id="etVh65">Olson, though, wasn’t so quick to pick sides in the debate.</p>
<p id="Pdbf6e">“Couple of crazy catches,” he said. “Dansby going back, I think Rosario was going to have the play at it first. Rosario was pretty deep. He had to re-adjust get back on it and over the shoulder catch And then Riley going up against the tarp. Weird angle. Couple of great catches and that’s the kind of game it was tonight.”</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2022/10/13/23402041/nlcs-game-2-atlanta-braves-philadelphia-philliesCory McCartney2021-10-10T10:00:00-04:002021-10-10T10:00:00-04:00Max Fried’s dominant performance highlights Braves’ Game 2 win
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<figcaption>Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Fried was masterful while striking out nine over six scoreless. </p> <p id="W2u4FD">After a big win in Game 2, the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> will return to Truist Park with home field advantage in hand. Atlanta put Friday’s disappointing 2-1 Game 1 loss behind them and scored a 3-0 win over the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Milwaukee Brewers</a> Saturday thanks to some timely hitting and a big performance on the mound by Max Fried. </p>
<p id="w64UXR">“I said that this afternoon, the resiliency these guys show, they’ll bounce back on the toughest loss and play a really, really good game,” Brian Snitker said following Saturday’s win. “They’ve done that for years, since I’ve been here.”</p>
<p id="adc4Qc">“They can turn the page better than I can, believe me,” Snitker added. “I always kind of preached that the only thing you can control is today. They all come to the field, they prepare for today’s game and don’t dwell on anything. It’s a great trait to have for a group of players.”</p>
<p id="dFoYoT">The Braves had opportunities in Game 1 but were unable to take advantage. Fried helped put that loss behind them with another gritty performance that has become the norm for him in the second half of the 2021 season. Fried tossed six scoreless innings and struck out nine while allowing just three hits. </p>
<p id="p4asqr">“I think last year’s postseason experience probably was great for him today, approaching it,” Snitker said of Fried’s outing. “You can just see Max, as the game wears on he just feeds into it. He’s, like you say, really good. He’s been really good for a long time now.”</p>
<p id="TVRKN2">“It was fun to watch. He’s fun to watch when he’s got it going, because he’s got the arsenal, the assortment. Spins the ball so well. It was a great outing.”</p>
<p id="Na7RFi">Fried didn’t allow a runner to reach second base until Willy Adames doubled with two outs in the sixth inning. He didn’t walk a single batter and finished the game having thrown just 81 pitches. </p>
<p id="Ao3reE">Rather than send him back out for the seventh as he did in Game 1 with Charlie Morton, Snitker elected to turn the game over to his bullpen. </p>
<p id="NRZjQc">“The biggest thing about that, like Charlie last night after six and Max after six, he bled it out there in the sixth,” Snitker said of the decision to pull Fried. “He went through the meat of their lineup and expended what I felt was a lot of energy right there, in a real big moment in playoff baseball. Charlie’s been through this 100 times. Max is just cutting his teeth with all this.”</p>
<p id="o5uFEC">Joc Pederson pinch-hit for Fried in the seventh and singled but was left stranded as Jorge Soler flew out to end the inning. </p>
<p id="ebDrtI">Snitker turned to Luke Jackson and the bullpen to try and get the final nine outs. There were some stress filled moments but they were able to get the job done. Jackson struck out the first two hitters he faced but then allowed a single to Julio Urias. A walk to Lorenzo Cain ended Jackson’s evening and Tyler Matzek struck out pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor to strand the runners. </p>
<p id="WtrUlQ">Matzek walked Jace Peterson to begin the eighth and then allowed a single to Kolten Wong to put runners at first and second with no one out. The Braves had Huascar Ynoa and Will Smith both warming in the bullpen at this point but Snitker elected to stick with Matzek. The move paid off as Matzek struck out Adames, got Eduardo Escobar to fly out and then struck out Avisail Garcia to end the inning. </p>
<p id="Oz1RHn">“That was huge. This guy’s pitched so many big innings for us,” Snitker said of Matzek. “He’s not a matchup guy either. He’s got really good numbers against right-handed hitters. He’s pitched some really big innings for us over the last couple of years.”</p>
<p id="ilI4AA">There was more drama in the ninth as Will Smith walked Yelich and then allowed a broken bat single to Urias. However, Cain flew out to right before Luke Maile grounded sharply to Austin Riley at third who started the 5-4-3 double play to end the game. </p>
<p id="rfzG0Y">With the split in hand, the Braves will hand the ball to Ian Anderson in Game 3 with a chance to take a lead in the series. As frustrating as the Game 1 loss was, this is the exact position that the team hoped to be in after facing Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff in the first two games. </p>
<p id="AUJQH0">“You come on the road in the playoffs, you want to split,” Snitker said. “Obviously you’d love to take two, but if you split, that’s a good thing. Now we’ll go home, try to win a game on Monday.”</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/10/22719173/2021-nlds-game-2-atlanta-braves-max-fried-dominant-series-tied-milwaukee-brewersKris Willis2021-10-10T01:00:00-04:002021-10-10T01:00:00-04:00Talking Chop Podcast Episode 311: Atlanta has home-field advantage
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<figcaption>Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="26Q1tq">The Atlanta Braves had their biggest game of the season on Saturday in Milwaukee, facing a 1-0 deficit in the National League Division Series. In contrast to Game 1, the Braves took the lead and never relinquished it, evening the matchup at 1-1 as the two teams head to Atlanta.</p>
<p id="wL3W4G">TC’s Brad Rowland and Scott Coleman co-host Episode 311 of the Talking Chop Podcast and topics include the following:</p>
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<li id="oMsWMn">The third inning was kind to the Braves, with help from Jorge Soler, Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Kolten Wong and Ron Washington</li>
<li id="s7MFtM">Austin Riley’s home run brought insurance and additional comfort</li>
<li id="D3x9yQ">Max Fried was lights-out, and there was controversy — at least in some circles — when he was removed from the game</li>
<li id="usDKB0">Tyler Matzek held down the fort with four huge outs</li>
<li id="vZqB8K">Will Smith scared everyone (again) before putting things away</li>
<li id="bYrnlo">Looking ahead to Game 3 on Monday and the rest of the series, with Atlanta stealing home-field advantage in what amounts to a best-of-three clash</li>
<li id="XeVu6c">Much, much more</li>
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<p id="BXbem4">Please check out the podcast via <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-chop-for-atlanta-braves-fans/id1082214582">Apple Podcasts</a> (where we strongly encourage you to leave a five-star review and rating), <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kris-willis/talking-chop-podcast">Stitcher</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2kOP27obO7BdEyzXFooMXE">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://player.fm/series/talking-chop-for-atlanta-braves-fans">PlayerFM</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1267-talking-chop-for-atlanta-52318366/">iHeartRadio</a> or you can find us at our <a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/VMP6478039783">MegaPhone page</a> for all the latest.</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/talking-chop-podcast/2021/10/10/22717735/talking-chop-podcast-episode-311-atlanta-braves-milwaukee-brewers-game-2-nlds-max-fried-mlb-playoffsScott ColemanBrad Rowland2021-10-09T22:36:18-04:002021-10-09T22:36:18-04:00Battery Power: Maximum Fried, Riley’s power stroke headline as Braves even NLDS with Brewers
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<figcaption>Max Fried tied a career postseason high with nine strikeouts in the Braves’ win. | Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>On what went right, what went wrong and what’s next for Atlanta after Saturday’s 3-0 win in Game 2</p> <div id="CLiy5h"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ryV_UeXweeQ?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="ULvBTp">The Braves needed maximum Fried and they got it, riding his best postseason start to date and enough offensive moments to beat the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> 3-0 and even the Division Series.</p>
<p id="DkUCsw">Grant McAuley and Cory McCartney dive into Max Fried’s start, Austin Riley’s power stroke and what lies ahead as the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3.</p>
<p id="uYqkEz">Be sure to subscribe to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjPa0drWIAkUN9JStcshyig">Talking Chop’s YouTube channel</a> and turn on notifications to get alerts about all of the latest episodes.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/9/22718548/battery-power-maximum-fried-rileys-power-stroke-headline-as-braves-even-nlds-with-brewersCory McCartney2021-10-09T20:57:31-04:002021-10-09T20:57:31-04:00Max Fried tosses six shutout innings as Braves take home 3-0 win over Brewers
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<p>You look up “monster” in the dictionary and this picture of Max Fried will show up.</p> <p id="vCqdq3">Max Fried had yet another fantastic start on the mound for the Braves. His six strong innings held the Brewers completely in check and helped give the lineup and the bullpen the opportunity to bring home a 3-0 shutout win that evened up the NLDS. </p>
<p id="UHPLXo">As expected, this was another game where starting pitching mostly took over and runs were at a premium for both teams. The Braves had baserunners in each of the first two innings, but couldn’t do much after getting one guy on. That changed in the third inning, which is when the Braves made Brandon Woodruff blink.</p>
<p id="VghKJR">After Max Fried led off the inning with a strikeout, Jorge Soler continued his good run of form against Woodruff by hitting a double down the line to give the Braves a scoring chance. Freddie Freeman promptly cashed in the scoring chance with a single out to right field, plating Soler and putting the Braves in front early. </p>
<p id="X7pxzY">Then we had a weird moment, which is when Ozzie Albies absolutely crushed one 381 feet — for a double. If the ball had gone just a foot further, it would’ve been a 3-0 game at that point. Instead, it was just a 2-0 game and the Braves had to settle for just the two-run lead heading into the bottom of the third inning. </p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">ᴏᴢᴢᴛᴏʙᴇʀ!<a href="https://twitter.com/ozzie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ozzie</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BattleATL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BattleATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/ous7DCx860">pic.twitter.com/ous7DCx860</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1446958655929262080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="xljLVx">Fortunately, Max Fried appeared to be locked in once again. He’s been pitching as well as anybody you can think of in baseball for the past couple of months and he continued that strong run right into the Postseason while making a start on the road. Fried lived up to all expectations and then some, as he pitched six extremely strong innings while striking out nine, giving up only three hits, walking nobody and giving up zero runs. It wasn’t another Complete Game masterclass that we’ve seen from Fried, but we will absolutely take an outing like that during the Postseason. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Max Fried, Beautiful 77mph Curveball. <a href="https://t.co/BI286g02Vj">pic.twitter.com/BI286g02Vj</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1446970873324376064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="l01qFA">Before Fried left the game, the Braves gave him one last insurance run as a gift. It came from none other than Austin Riley, who has been tearing the cover off of the ball for as long as Fried’s been cooking on the mound. This time, Riley hit a fly ball that just kept on soaring and soaring until it landed well past the fence in right-center field for a solo homer. Austin’s stunner made it 3-0 Braves and the sixth inning was also the end of the line for Brandon Woodruff. We had another pitcher’s duel this evening, but Max Fried came out the winner in this particular battle. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">AUSTIN 3:16 SAYS BANG<a href="https://twitter.com/austinriley1308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@austinriley1308</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BattleATL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BattleATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/oK1UGIaz2j">pic.twitter.com/oK1UGIaz2j</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1446972045640802307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="aAi1uF">From the sixth inning onwards, it was on the bullpen in order to take this thing on home. Luke Jackson and Tyler Matzek both came on and Matzek in particular was nails. Matzek entered in the seventh with two men on and two out and after the Brewers played a game of pinch-hitter shuffle, Matzek struck out Tyrone Taylor to clean up that mess and then found himself in a situation in the eighth with two men on and nobody out. It almost seemed as if Matzek just needed those runners on base to lock back in, because he proceeded to go strikeout-flyout-strikeout to end the eighth inning with the Brewers still scoreless. </p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerMatzek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TylerMatzek</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BattleATL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BattleATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/jqEEgS4Nq4">pic.twitter.com/jqEEgS4Nq4</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1446991244530434052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2021</a>
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<p id="AUcTBK">Then the ninth inning came in and it was Will Smith Time. As is customary during Will Smith Time, the tying run came to the plate with nobody out after Smith walked Christian Yelich and then got BABIP’d by Luis Urias on a broken bat single. Then Will Smith got Lorenzo Cain to fly out harmlessly before getting the customary game-ending Will Smith double play to finish things off and give the Braves their first win in this Divisional Series. </p>
<p id="ECtELI">After two games in Milwaukee, the Braves are basically in the position that every road team asks for in a Postseason series. They’re heading back home with the series tied and to be honest, they haven’t looked bad at all. Charlie Morton and Max Fried went blow-for-blow with Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff and it also wasn’t all that surprising to see it happen in real time. Thanks to the aforementioned excellent pitching from everybody involved and some timely hitting from the likes of Jorge Soler, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley, the Braves are alive and well in this series as it switches venues.</p>
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<img alt="MLB: NLDS-Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee Brewers" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9HqWwLBqUtwJkDvjHRsobkc1uz0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22913716/usa_today_16924646.jpg">
<cite>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
<figcaption>Max Fried is the man and you will address him as such.</figcaption>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/9/22718487/atlanta-braves-milwaukee-brewers-nlds-game-2-recap-final-score-highlights-max-fried-is-goodDemetrius Bell2021-10-09T20:09:54-04:002021-10-09T20:09:54-04:00NLDS Game 2 Overflow Thread
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<img alt="Division Series - Atlanta Braves v Milwaukee Brewers - Game Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZVr8yMdiUbhK-5lVb2pBM9iSszI=/0x0:3942x2628/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69975064/1345741213.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Things are happening</p> <p id="W0obXF">Braves lead 3-0 heading into the ninth. Tyler Matzek is the Death Star. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/9/22718481/nlds-game-2-overflow-threadIvan the Great2021-10-09T16:30:00-04:002021-10-09T16:30:00-04:002021 NLDS Game 2: Braves vs Brewers game thread
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<img alt="Division Series - Atlanta Braves v Milwaukee Brewers - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/axnxAh0YUekabkx347NKvUOsEek=/5x0:3823x2545/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69974490/1345578929.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Postseason baseball continues</p> <p id="zJJOdy">Yesterday, the Braves fell agonizingly short of starting out the 2021 NLDS with a 1-0 lead against the Brewers. Today’s a new opportunity, as Max Fried will look to outduel Brandon Woodruff in today’s pitching matchup. Can the Braves tie the series heading back to Cobb County? Or will their backs be against the wall by the time Game 3 rolls around? We’re about to find out.</p>
<p id="5gkJzO"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/9/22717880/atlanta-braves-milwaukee-brewers-nlds-game-2-max-fried-brandon-woodruff-time-tv-channel-radio-stream">PREVIEW</a> | <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/9/22718033/atlanta-braves-milwaukee-brewers-nlds-game-2-lineups-same-for-the-road-team">LINEUPS</a></p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/9/22718052/atlanta-braves-milwaukee-brewers-nlds-game-2-thread-discussion-chatDemetrius Bell2021-10-09T14:00:36-04:002021-10-09T14:00:36-04:00Braves roll with same lineup for Game 2 against Brewers
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<figcaption>Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Soler, Freeman, Albies, and so on and so forth.</p> <p id="BwcSzn">Both the Braves and the Brewers have released their lineups for Game 2 this evening, so let’s go right on ahead and take a look at how each team will be looking later on. </p>
<p id="MxOTKu">This is a Braves blog so of course we’re going to start with the Braves and their lineup:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MaxFried32?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaxFried32</a> takes the mound for Game 2.<br><br>Presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/TruistNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TruistNews</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BattleATL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BattleATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/5xvPquRJHJ">pic.twitter.com/5xvPquRJHJ</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1446893344035049477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="CAVV6P">The Braves are sticking with their Game 1 lineup, with the lone exception of course being the pitcher. Again, it’s worth noting that Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler both did pretty well against Brandon Woodruff earlier in the season, so here’s hoping for a repeat here in October.</p>
<p id="r61UzL">Meanwhile, here’s Milwaukee’s lineup:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brewers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brewers</a> Lineup 10/09/21<br><br>1. Kolten Wong 2B<br>2. Willy Adames SS<br>3. Eduardo Escobar 1B<br>4. Avisail Garcia RF<br>5. Christian Yelich LF<br>6. Luis Urias 3B<br>7. Lorenzo Cain CF<br>8. Manny Pina C<br>9. Brandon Woodruff P<br><br>Starting Pitcher : Brandon Woodruff</p>— Daily MLB Lineups (@DailyMLBLineup) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyMLBLineup/status/1446895164421599234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a>
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<p id="aMLMn8">Luis Urias and Manny Pina are entering the lineup at third base and catcher, respectively. Rowdy Tellez was the hero for Milwaukee in Game 1, but he’ll be starting tonight’s game on the bench as Eduardo Escobar will be batting third. So the Brewers made a couple of changes here, but there’s nothing too wild going on. </p>
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<cite>baseballsavant.com</cite>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/9/22718033/atlanta-braves-milwaukee-brewers-nlds-game-2-lineups-same-for-the-road-teamDemetrius Bell