It was not a fun evening for the Braves, but the offense did put something together late in the game, even as it was too little, too late.
The Braves were hoping to get the bad taste out of their mouths after losing Ronald Acuna for the season to a torn ACL and losing another series to the Pirates. They were coming home to start a homestand with Charlie Morton on the mound and Sean Murphy and Austin Riley returning to the lineup from injury.
Things did not start well, however, as two doubles, a walk, a single, and another double scored four runs for Washington in the top of the first. Morton did suffer from some bad BABIP luck, as well as a questionable checked swing call on a would-be strike 3 that turned into an RBI double, but that didn’t change the four runs on the board. The Nationals’ hits in the first had xBA’s of .650, .580, .250, and .210. Ozzie led off the bottom of the frame with a single, but that was the only baserunner from the first time through the order for the Braves. Washington tacked on a run in each of the second and third innings, via a CJ Abrams solo homer and some small ball.
The Nationals tacked on another two runs in the sixth, making it 8-0 as Charlie tried to eat one more inning for the bullpen off of three singles and a sac fly. Eight runs ties the most runs that Charlie has given up in a start since 2015. He did strike out 7 across 5.2 innings, but gave up a bunch of hard-hit balls. Meanwhile, Mitchell Parker continued to cruise past the Braves’ hitters, allowing only another single to Michael Harris through six innings.
Atlanta did threaten in the seventh, still facing Mitchell, as Marcell Ozuna led the inning off with a single and Matt Olson followed him with a double. Sean Murphy hit a chopper to score Marcell, avoiding the shutout. Adam Duvall followed Sean with a two-run moonshot of a homer that he crushed 108.6 MPH off the bat. The Nationals brought Derek Law on in relief and he issued a rare walk to Michael Harris. Harris immediately stole second and Orlando brought him home on a single to make the score 8-4. Law walked Kelenic to turn the lineup back over to the top, giving the Braves some real hope of getting right back in the game. Ozzie grounded into a double-play, however, ending the inning.
Three home runs in the past four starts for Adam Duvall.
Heating up. pic.twitter.com/22Z3pnWTYU
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) May 27, 2024
Jimmy Herget set the Nationals down in order in the eighth in his second appearance of the season to give the Braves’ offense a chance to keep chipping at the lead. Hunter Harvey got the eighth for Washington, however, and dispatched Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley, and Matt Olson with ease. Herget got the ninth as well and allowed a leadoff double to Lane Thomas, but did well to strand the runner with two flyouts and a strikeout.
Sean Murphy reached as the leadoff batter against Finnegan on a slow chopper to the left side to begin the home ninth. Duvall and Harris each went down swinging, however, but Orlando Arcia hit a line drive single to keep the game alive. Kelenic went down swinging as well, ending the game, but the Braves did at least make Washington use some of their better relievers after a brutal beginning to the game.
Join us again for game 2 tomorrow at 7:20 PM ET.