The 2020 Braves could be summarized by Monday’s win over the Marlins.
Miami scored three runs to take a first-inning lead. The Braves responded with four in the bottom of the inning. A handful of solid relievers and web gems later, the Braves won, 5-4, to begin their final homestand on a high note.
“It’s a big series; the first game of a series like that is always huge,” manager Brian Snitker said. “That’s a two-game swing that you’re looking at. We took it right down to the end. We’ve had some where I’ve been exhausted. There was one earlier in the year I feel the same way I do now. Just spent.”
The victory, paired with Philadelphia’s loss in Washington, puts the Braves within 24 hours of potentially clinching the National League East. If the same results unfold Tuesday – a Braves win over the Marlins and a Phillies loss to the Nationals – then the Braves win the division.
As for Monday, the Braves had an unwelcomed 3-1/2 hours of rotation developments. Left-hander Cole Hamels, who finally returned last week, informed the team of shoulder fatigue around 4:30 p.m. The Braves announced he’d miss the rest of the season roughly half an hour before first pitch.
Then starter Huascar Ynoa surrendered three runs in the first inning, putting the Braves in an immediate hole. He allowed four hits and walked one in the inning.
The Braves answered with their own offensive spurt against Marlins righty Trevor Rogers. Ronald Acuna and Freddie Freeman drew back-to-back walks to start the frame. Marcell Ozuna’s grounder advanced Acuna, who scored on Travis d’Arnaud’s ensuing single.
One out later, Ozzie Albies singled home Ozuna. Austin Riley followed with a two-RBI double that put the Braves ahead permanently because of their bullpen and defense.
The play of the night came in the ninth. Down one, Miami’s Jesus Aguilar led off with a single against Mark Melancon and was replaced by speedy pinch-runner Monte Harrison. Next came former Braves outfielder Matt Joyce, who hit into an unconventional double play.
Joyce chopped a ball that Melancon snatched out of the air. He fired to first baseman Freddie Freeman for the first out. Freeman, in a heads-up play, saw Harrison dashing for third and threw it to shortstop Dansby Swanson, who tagged Harrison out at third for the second out. Brian Anderson’s deep flyout to right finished the game.
“That was a heads-up play by Dansby,” Melancon said. “Just an athletic play all the way around with Freddie’s throw, Dansby. That was fun.”
Snitker added: “Melancon made a heck of a play, going to the back of the mound like that and giving Freddie a good throw. Then Freddie leading Dansby and the athletic play he made. That was amazing. Amazing.”
Notes from Monday:
- The quick comeback was what one has come to expect from the offense, which makes every deficit appear manageable, especially so early in a game. But Monday was also a reminder that despite an encouraging stretch, the Braves' reality remains the same. This team lives on the edge, relying on its bats to continuously overcome shoddy starting pitching.
Whether that works in the postseason will be revealed soon.
- Keeping with the theme of this game as a microcosm of the season, the Braves' bullpen did well with a heavier workload. It covered six innings after Ynoa pitched only three frames. It was the 14th time a Braves starter failed to pitch beyond three innings and the 29th time a starter couldn’t cover more than four.
Tyler Matzek, Darren O’Day, Chris Martin, Shane Greene, Will Smith and Melancon held the Marlins to one run on four hits.
- The Marlins missed another chance in the eighth. Greene recorded a groundout and strikeout in what looked like it’d be an easy inning. Miami followed with a single, walk and single to cut the deficit to one. Snitker lifted Greene for Smith, who was supposed to have the night off.
Smith walked Lewis Brinson to load the bases. On the first pitch of the next at-bat, Starling Marte rocketed a liner to Riley at third.
“He does a great job,” Snitker said of Riley’s defense. “He’s got a nice arm. He moves so well laterally and has great coordination. His feet work for the size of man he is. He gets his feet under him which allows his arm to work.”
- Acuna made an impressive diving catch in the fourth inning to rob Garrett Cooper. Acuna raced into left-center and dove forward to snag the ball. A smiling Ozuna approached Acuna, gave him a “side five” and thanked him for tracking down the ball.
- The Cubs (32-22) defeated the Pirates, keeping pace with the Braves for the National League’s No. 2 seed. Chicago holds the tiebreaker, which is interdivision record.
The Braves (32-22) hold the No. 3 seed and would host the Cardinals in the best-of-three wild-card round next week. The seeds are tight and changing daily, so it’s probable the Braves won’t know their opponent until Sunday when the regular season finishes.
- If the Braves do host the wild-card round, they’ll hope their recent play at Truist Park is an indicator. The Braves are 16-8 at home this season, and dating back to Aug. 17, 2019, they’re 32-12 in Atlanta.
- Tuesday could be a memorable day in Braves history with the team potentially clinching its third consecutive division title. Right-hander Bryse Wilson will replace Hamels as the Braves' starter against Jose Urena. It will be Wilson’s first start since July 16, 2019.
