Bryce Elder struggled with just about everything while the Braves offense mustered very little against Hunter Brown and Houston’s bullpen as the Braves drop game two of the series, 6-2.
Things pretty much went downhill from the jump as Bryce Elder simply didn’t have it tonight. He did get a scoreless first inning but starting in the second, the Astros took control of the game. In the top of the second, after a strikeout to Jesùs Sanchez, the Astros went single, walk, RBI single to take an early 1-0
lead. Then with two runners still on base, Jeremey Peña roped a 2-run double to left field and the Braves were in an early 3-0 hole.
After a 1-2-3 bottom so the second, the Astros went right back to work in the top of third. Carlos Correa led off the inning with a line drive double, and immediately moved to third on a Jose Altuve single. Sànchez drove in Correa with an RBI groundout and then Christian Walker came up and destroyed a ball 431 feet to centerfield for a 2-run homer. Houston led 6-0 after three innings.
Elder carried on a bit longer but after Jake Myers and Yanier Diaz hit back-to-back singles in the fifth, Elder was pulled for Dylan Dodd. Elder’s final line ended up at 4.2 innings pitched, 10 hits, 6 earned runs, 7 strikeouts and 3 walks. His ERA for the season now sits at 5.56.
As for the offense, it stayed quite pretty much the whole night. The one bright spot of the evening came in the bottom of the fourth when with one out, Matt Olson launched a ball into the chophouse in right field for his 24th homer of the season and at least got the Braves on the board at 6-1.
Their last run came in the seventh with an Olson single, an Ozzie Albies walk, and an RBI single from Ha-Seong Kim.
The Braves bullpen did have a solid evening, throwing 5 scoreless innings to give the team a chance to come back but the Braves inconsistent offense was on the case again tonight and the 6-run hole was too much to overcome. Braves are now 65-83 on the season and are very much looking at 90+ loss season. They’ll attempt to avoid a sweep Sunday afternoon.
Joey Wentz takes the mound Sunday afternoon, with Houston answering with Framber Valdez. First pitch is 12:35 ET.
