The Atlanta Braves
took on the Miami Marlins in game two of the series looking for their seventh straight win. The Braves are tied with the Cubs for the most runs scored since the start of July and are seventh best since the All-Star Break. The Marlins are twentieth in MLB in runs since the start of July and in the bottom three since the break. The Braves are 6-2 against the Fish so far this season.Bryce Elder was the starter for the Braves tonight. He had a 3.00 ERA since the start of July, but
his FIP north of seven plus his BABIP shows he has had fortune on his side. The first inning went great for him. He was able to retire the side via two fly outs and a strikeout. The first did not go much better for the Braves facing the Marlins’ staff ace Eury Pérez (if he is the ace is arguable of course). Acuña was able to get a single, but that was the only offense.
Elder did his job again in the second by retiring the side. He had a strikeout and two ground outs. He made it through two innings only pitching sixteen pitches. The Braves busted the game open in their half of the second. Albies led it off with a walk, followed by a Dubón single to put runners on the corners. Austin Riley then kept his hot streak going and hit a ground-rule double after a Lane Thomas pop up to score the first run of the game.
Sean Murphy struck out, but then Drake Baldwin scored both runners with a clutch two-out single to make the score 3-0. The inning finally ended with an Acuña strikeout.
In the third inning Elder finally gave up his first baserunner with a walk of Marsee walk but settled down to sit down the next three hitters. In the bottom of the third Olson struck out, but the Braves’ newest cleanup hitter Michael Harris had a ground-rule double of his own to have the same amount of doubles on the year as his jersye number (23). Albies flied out, but Dubón came through again with yet another two-out RBI when he hit a single to score Harris to make the score 4-0. He also stole second base, followed by a Lane Thomas walk. Unfortunately, Riley’s hot streak did not continue in this at-bat and he struck out with two runners on to end the third inning.
Elder continued arguably his best start of the season in the fourth when he induced two pop ups and a fly out to sit down the side in order. The fourth was not exactly the best inning the for the Braves’ offense as Eury Pérez was able to strikeout the side.
Elder somewhat struggled in the fifth in comparison to the rest of his innings tonight. He induced a ground out, but then he walked Caissie and gave up a double to Marsee. Somehow Elder was able to get out of this jam with only one earned run. Mack grounded out to score the run and then Sanoja flied out on a deep ball to left. In the bottom of the fifth Harris singled, but it was the only offense for the Braves outside of that.
Walt Weiss showed faith in Elder after making it this far on so few pitches and left him in to pitch the sixth. It paid off as he once again retired the side, picking up a strikeout of Stowers. Pérez was finally pulled from the game and it was the right choice as Calvin Faucher was able to strikeout both Thomas and Riley. It looked like there may be some momentum as Sean Murphy singled for his first hit since coming back and Baldwin singled as well. Acuña struck out though, so no more runs were scored.
Believe it or not, Bryce Elder pitched the seventh inning, giving the bullpen a second game in a row where the starter went at least six innings. Weiss’ faith paid off. Elder was able to sit down three of the four hitters faced. The only baserunner was via an error from nine other than Austin Riley. The Braves were sat down in order in the seventh. Of note, Matt Olson yet again did not reach base this game, which is a rarity these days.
Dylan Dodd came in to pitch the eighth ended Elder’s arguably best performance of the season. Elder pitched 7.0 innings of one hit ball where he surrendered one run with two walks and had three strikeouts. Elder did all of this in only eighty-four pitches. Dodd started the inning off getting a strikeout, but gave us a scare after that. Sanoja and Edwards both singled back-to-back. After a mound visit Dodd was able to get Stowers to fly out. Weiss then decided to bring in Fuentes who promptly got Lopez to ground out on one pitch. to end the top of the eighth. Austin Riley singled in the eighth for his second hit of the game, but that was the only offense for the Braves.
The Braves possible future closer Didier Fuentes stayed in the game and got the save by retiring the side and picking up two strikeouts
The key to the game tonight was Bryce Elder proving the doubters wrong and pitched an absolute gem of a one hit game. Only showing weakness in one inning of seven. The Braves’ offense also had multiple clutch two-out RBI. Austin Riley also appears that his turnaround might actually be for real.
The Braves won their seventh game in a row and look to sweep the Marlins tomorrow when Martín Pérez takes the mound while they look to become the second team in MLB this season to win seventy games.
First pitch tomorrow is at 7:15 EDT.
