Braves rally falls short in loss to Reds

Drake Baldwin helped the Braves look like they may come back, and the bullpen looked sharp again, but the Braves fell just short in a loss to the Reds.

The Atlanta Braves battled the Cincinnati Reds tonight looking to finally reach .500 for the first time this season and had to go through their ace, Hunter Greene.

The Braves brought Grant Holmes to the bump who just had a fantastic outing against the Dodgers in his last outing with a career high nine strikeouts. On paper, it looked like the Braves may be in trouble based on the pitching matchup.

The game did not start off great for Grant Holmes. The first hitter he faced, TJ Friedl, hit a solo shot on a full count that came due to a pitch clock violation to make the score 0-1. Matt McClain then singled followed by Elly De La Cruz also managing a single of his own to put runners on the corners with no outs. Fortunately, the Braves were able to turn a double play on an unconventional play where Riley made the play at first on a crazy high hop and then Olson basically picked off De La Cruz when he came off second too far. This did allow McClain to score from third to make the score 0-2. Holmes then recorded his first strikeout of the game to finish the top of the first.

Hunter Greene looked sharp. He sat down the first three batters easily with two groundouts and a strikeout to Ozuna on three pitches north of 100 MPH. Holmes looked much better in the second when he induced three groundouts and faced the minimum number of hitters.

In the Braves half of the second, Hunter Greene looked even better than his first inning out. He struck out the side, making it four straight strikeouts to that point.

In the third inning Holmes was able to get Hinds out via a strikeout on three straight sliders, but then Friedl came up to the plate and hit his second HR of the night almost to the exact same spot as his first HR to make the score 0-3. Holmes then settled down and recorded another strikeout and a groundout to De La Cruz.

It looked like the Braves may finally get something going in the third. Eli White was initially called out on a grounder to second, but it was overturned. Drake Baldwin then singled to put two on with zero outs. Hunter Greene bounced back and struck out Allen and Verdugo followed by Austin Riley hitting a 99.4 MPH line drive that was caught to end the inning.

Holmes struggled again in the fourth. Lux hit a single and then moved to second on a groundout. Holmes was able to get Steer to fly out, but then Stephenson singled to score Lux from second to make the score 0-4. Holmes was able to force a fly out to Austin Riley to stop more damage.

During warmups, before the bottom of the fourth inning, Hunter Greene felt some discomfort and was pulled from the game due to an apparent groin injury. It is always terrible to see injuries like that, especially in the midst of an incredible season. Brent Suter came in for relief duties. The pitching change worked seamlessly for the Reds as he sat down all three hitters he faced in the inning with an Ozuna fly out, and then Olson and Albies striking out.

Holmes stayed in to pitch the fifth. He was able to strikeout Hinds and then wisely pitched around Friedl and walked him. He then struck out McClain and got De La Cruz to ground out.

In the bottom of the fifth the Braves finally put a run across when Drake Baldwin hit his first career HR against a lefty to make the score 1-4.

This was the only offense the Braves could muster in the inning.

Grant Holmes stayed in the game to pitch the sixth. It was learned quickly that it was time for his evening to end when Gavin Lux doubled and then Santiago Espinal lined out sharply. He was replaced by Aaron Bummer after 5.1 innings where Holmes surrendered four ERs on seven hits (two HRs), one walk, and five strikeouts. Bummer struck out Steer and then intentionally walked Stephenson to get to Hurtubise. This strategy worked when Bummer was able to force a groundout.

Scott Barlow then entered the game for the Reds. Verdugo struck out, but then Riley singled and then stole his first base of the season. With first base open Ozuna walked on a 3-2 count. This forced a pitching change where the Reds brought in Taylor Rogers. Matt Olson took advantage of this change and was able to single up the middle on a grounder just missed by De La Cruz which scored Riley to make the score 2-4. This also moved Ozuna to third who was able to score on an Albies sacrifice fly to make the score 3-4. Harris grounded out to end the inning.

Bummer stayed in the game to pitch the seventh and looked solid. He sat down all three hitters via a groundout, strikeout, and fly out respectively. Luis Mey came in the game for the Reds and was able to also see a one-two-three inning.

Dylan Lee came in the game to pitch the eighth. He was able to sit down De La Cruz and Lux, but then walked Espinal. He made up for it though, by picking him off at first to end the top of the inning.

Tony Santillan came in to pitch for the Reds. The Braves sat down one-two-three for the second straight inning. Enyel De Los Santos came in to pitch the top of the ninth for the Braves. De Los Santos looked like the pitcher the Braves front office hopes he can be when recorded two strikeouts on his way to a one-two-three inning.

The Braves came of to bat with Matt Olson leading off the bottom of the ninth. He was facing Emilio Pagán. Olson was able to draw a full count and foul off a pitch, but ultimately struck out. Ozzie Albies also gave a good fight. He drew a full count and an eight pitch at-bat, but ultimately flew out to deep left. Michael Harris then singled putting one on with two outs. Brian Snitker then made an interesting decision by pinch hitting Rosario for Eli White. In a shock to no one, Rosario struck out to end the game.

The Braves’ rally came up just short where the bullpen was dominant once again in a close game. Drake Baldwin continued to look great going two for three with a HR. The Braves will play the Reds again tomorrow for the series finale.