Tonight felt like a story we’ve seen many times in recent trips to DC by the Atlanta Braves. Nationals Park has served as a fountain of wealth for Braves’ hitters for years, and tonight was no different, as the Atlanta offense amassed nine runs in their 9-4 win in game one of this four-game series. The great news? There’s always tomorrow.
The Action
The first inning gave the impression that this would be a much different game than what it ended up being. Jake Irvin sailed through the top of the first inning, highlighted by a strikeout of Ronald Acuna Jr to begin the night. Adding to the good vibes was a huge two-out rally by the Nats’ offense in the bottom of the frame. After two quick outs, Brady House extended the inning with a single, and that was followed by back-to-back walks to CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile. Jacob Young came up in a bases-loaded two-out situation, and cashed in with a two-run opposite field single to bring in the first runs of the ballgame and give the Nats a 2-0 lead early.
After that hit by Young, neither team saw a single baserunner until the top of the fourth, as Bryce Elder and Jake Irvin began trading zeroes. The Braves finally got on the board in the fourth, as Matt Olson, noted Nat-killer, shot a two-run home run out to center field to tie us up at two apiece.
That strike was quickly answered in the bottom of the fourth as Daylen Lile, just two days removed from his first homer of the season, decided that one felt so good that he wanted to do it again. He wasted no time tonight, launching the first pitch of the fourth inning out to right field to put the Nationals back in front at 3-2.
The top of the sixth was the inning that changed this whole game. Blake Butera sent Jake Irvin back out to start the inning, and that may have been the mistake that began the ordeal (not that you can blame him; Jake only threw 68 pitches), as the first batter reached on an error, and then Acuna was hit by a pitch before Irvin would be pulled. The first bit of damage in the inning came against PJ Poulin, as Drake Baldwin got him for a two-run double that would put Atlanta ahead 4-3. Brad Lord would be brought in later in the inning, and things just sort of erupted then. Each of the first three hitters Lord faced would drive in a run, RBI singles from Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris, then an RBI groundout by ex-National Dom Smith. As the sun set on this nightmare inning, the Braves had jumped out to a 7-3 lead.
The Nats would steal one back in the bottom of the sixth, as Austin Riley gifted them an errant throw on a two-out play against Jacob Young. That would allow Abrams to score the Nats’ final run of the night, making it 7-4.
- Bryce Elder: 6.2 innings, 3 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, 98 pitches
- Jake Irvin: 5 innings, 3 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 0 walks, 4 strikeouts, 68 pitches
Things went silent on both sides until the top of the ninth, as the Nationals gave Julian Fernandez his first big league action of the season, and it may not have gone the way he was hoping. The Braves got him with a combination of walks and small ball, with a run coming in on a bunt single by Eli White, and the last one on a sacrifice fly by Matt Olson, getting us to our final score of 9-4.
The Positives
This section, as you guys may have noticed, only comes out on losses, so naturally it’s bound to usually be short. I’m not sure why I felt the need to give that disclaimer, but you’re welcome! After allowing back-to-back hits to start his outing, Brad Lord was highly effective once again in long relief duties out of the bullpen. So good to see the Nats’ new front office being faithful to using him in the spots he can be most effective and not trying to force him into trying to be a starter. Offensively, Daylen Lile is about all I have for you tonight. His homer, plus a walk, made him the only National to reach base twice tonight without needing an error or something of that nature. Lile has notably raised his batting average on the season to .284.
What’s Next?
Game two of this series will get underway tomorrow night at 6:45, with a really intriguing pitching matchup. The Braves will start the right-handed Reynaldo Lopez (1-0, 2.18 ERA), somewhat of a journeyman now, but a guy who once upon a time was a top prospect in the Washington organization, and made his debut in the red curly W before being traded to the White Sox. The former Nat will be opposed by the new Nat, Foster Griffin (2-0, 3.05 ERA), who pitched a great game in Pittsburgh last week until he was tripped up at the very end by that Marcell Ozuna moonshot. Let’s see if he can keep his run of effectiveness going and even this series up.
Down on the Farm
AAA Rochester
Tomorrow: 6:35 game at Scranton Wilkes-Barre (pitcher yet to be announced)
AA Harrisburg
Tomorrow: 6:30 game versus Altoona (Kyle Luckham pitching)
High-A Wilmington
Tomorrow: 7:00 game at Frederick (Isaac Lyon pitching, High-A debut)
Low-A Fredericksburg
Tomorrow: 5:05 game at Salem (pitcher yet to be announced)
