Bullpen falters one too many times for offense to cover for in extra-innings 9-6 loss.

The bullpen wasn’t good enough in a bullpen game and combined with some questionable management, led to a loss even on a day when the offense showed up.

In a bullpen game and with their backs truly against the wall in the standings, the Braves were hoping to even the series at home against Baltimore.

Things got off to a good start, as Aaron Bummer worked around a hit-by-pitch to strike out the side. The Braves offense got going early as well, as Matt Olson hit a ringing double and Austin Riley crushed a two-run homer to dead center, as homers have been scarce for Austin recently.

Drake Baldwin singled and Ozuna reached on catcher’s interference, but Ozzie popped up (what’s new) to end the inning with a solid 2-0 Atlanta lead.

Bummer struck out another two in a scoreless second, but his third inning did not go so well. He allowed a solo homer to Tyler O’Neil and walked Cedric Mullins at the bottom of the Orioles’ lineup, but Snitker still saw it fit for him to try to see the Orioles’ lineup a second time through. That turned into a two run homer, as the Braves’ 2-0 lead evaporated into a 3-2 deficit in the third. Dylan Dodd took over and got out of the inning on two groundouts. Fortunately, the Braves’ offense wasn’t done for the day, as Matt Olson crushed a line drive homer to lead off the home third, tying the game.

Drake Baldwin cranked a double with two outs, but Marcell Ozuna lined out to end the inning. Dodd came back out for the fourth and allowed a double to O’Hearn and then a homer to Cowser, giving the Orioles a 5-3 lead. The Atlanta offense came through again in the fourth, as Nick Allen doubled to start the rally. Acuna walked ahead of Olson and Matt worked a long at-bat, ultimately ending in an RBI single. Austin Riley doubled down the left-field line bringing home Acuna, but Olson was thrown out trying to score from first, leaving the game tied at 5 runs.

Dodd got the fifth and worked a scoreless inning, as he completed 2.2 innings in total. The Braves offense threatened again in the fifth, as Baldwin was hit by a pitch and Albies singled to put two on and two out for Michael Harris, who unsurprisingly struck out to end the inning. De Los Santos and Austin Cox combined for a scoreless sixth and the Braves offense developed a major threat in the bottom of the frame, as Nick Allen lead off with an infield single and Acuna and Olson each walked, leaving the bases loaded and no outs against old friend Scott Blewett. In true 2025 Atlanta fashion, only one run scored, as Austin Riley struck out, Profar grounded out, bringing home a run, and Baldwin grounded out to end the threat. The Braves had a 6-5 lead, but there was certainly a feeling that not taking bigger advantage of that huge chance could come back to bite them as it has many times this season.

As was highly predictable, the Orioles immediately tied the game back up on a Mullins double and a Holliday single, ending Austin Cox’ outing. Daysbel Hernandez was up next and struck out four batters with one walk over his 1.2 innings of scoreless work. Raisel Iglesias worked around a walk for a scoreless top of the ninth, as the Braves’ offense continued to search for another run. That search continued into extra innings, as they were unable to get anything going in the bottom of the ninth.

Rafael Montero got the ninth, as he has been pretty good for the last month or so. Unfortunately, things did not go well, as Ramon Laureano doubled home the first run and combined with an intentional walk to score two more on another double from Stallings. The bottom of the Braves’ order went down in order in the tenth, resulting in another lost game and another lost series as the Braves’ playoff hopes are rapidly fading to oblivion.

Join us tomorrow as the Braves look to salvage the series behind Grant Holmes at 11:35 PM ET.