The Braves have made a living out of preventing lengthy losing skids over the last year. Their on-to-the-next mentality will be tested again this weekend in Arizona.
Dismantled, decimated and destroyed, the series in Los Angeles couldn’t have gone much worse. The Braves were swept, outscored 23-7, and left with little on which to hang their hats. It was a continuation of past struggles against the Dodgers, making matters worse.
But that’s yesterday, as manager Brian Snitker preaches. The Braves are now playing the Diamondbacks – who swept them at SunTrust Park – for four. The Braves should have fonder memories at Chase Field from when they took three of four here last September, helping them pull away in the division race.
“Somebody asked me if there’s a fallout from a series like that, and I said since I’ve been here, I haven’t witnessed that,” Snitker said. “We try to win tonight. We don’t want to worry about yesterday, we don’t want to worry about tomorrow. Every day is a new day in this game.”
Snitker’s maxim resonates in the clubhouse. Moments after Wednesday’s finale, star first baseman Freddie Freeman was pointing out the Braves are 3-3 on the current road trip. Just three days earlier they were fresh off sweeping the Marlins, pulling two games over .500.
They ran into a buzz saw, which happens over the course of a 162-game season. That isn’t to downplay worrisome spots – there are plenty – but the clubhouse is a level-headed group. Their trip to Phoenix last year was the best example of them all.
The Braves blew a late six-run lead at home to the Red Sox, seeing old friend Brandon Phillips hit the game-winning shot, completing a sweep for the eventual world champs. Yet a week later, the Braves were sitting pretty atop the division after winning the series in Arizona and sweeping the Giants in San Francisco, where the team historically doesn’t fare well.
A similar opportunity presents itself again in the desert. And with a tough May slate looming, including nine games against the Cardinals and Brewers, the Braves are in the midst of their next toughest task.
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