Oh yeah, they also won a series for the first time in what feels like ages.
Even in the midst of a lost season, it’s nice to have small moments of joy to remind you why you love this game and why you love the team you love. In this case, this past weekend felt like a respite for the Atlanta Braves and us fans. Sure, it doesn’t change much of anything when it comes to the outlook of the season but when it comes to the outlook of waking up tomorrow and thinking about what the local baseball team did in their last time out on the field, I feel like Kevin from The Office:
So with that in mind, let’s take a look back at what was a truly fascinating series spanning across four days and going from Cincinnati, Ohio to Bristol, Tennessee. I can’t even lie to y’all, I’m excited to write about a series win for once. Again, it’s not like it changes the outlook of the season but it’s a lot easier to talk about these than that dour run that the team’s been on for a few weeks now. Let’s get into it.
Thursday, July 31
Braves 12, Reds 11
In the top of the 8th inning, the Atlanta Braves scored 8 runs to go up 11-3 on the Cincinnati Reds.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Atlanta Braves gave up 8 runs to end up tied 11-11 with the Reds heading into the ninth inning.
I’m not going to sit here and lie to y’all, I turned the game off after that. I called a baseball mental health break on that one. I crashed out online, y’all. That might sound childish but I’ve seen some doozies this season and that was the biggest doozy one of them all.
I could give you a detailed recap of what happened but yeah, when you give up eight runs without getting a single out in the process, there’s nothing else to talk about. Dane Dunning and Dylan Lee gave up eight runs and recorded two outs between them in the process — and both were from Lee! A completely mortifying pitching performance from those two. The Braves still ended up winning it in extras (with Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias being the heroes. Go figure!) but good grief! At least it was a one-run win this time instead of the other way around, for once.
Friday, August 1
Reds 3, Braves 2
It was the day before the Speedway Classic and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even the Atlanta Braves lineup which was mostly kept quiet by Brady Singer and the rest of Cincinnati’s pitching staff. For a while, this was basically the polar opposite of the tomfoolery and shenanigans that went on during the absolutely maddening series opener.
Bryce Elder did his level best to help keep the Braves competitive in this one, as he ended up going 6.2 innings while only ending up with two runs credited to his line. You’ll always take that result from Elder but unfortunately, he left the game with it being 1-0 Reds and then Dylan Dodd gave up a two-run dinger to Will Benson that gave the Reds what was their winning number for the day. The Braves did make a rally in the ninth inning but that only added more insult to injury as the Braves ended up losing their 27th one-run loss of the season, which currently leads baseball. Oof!
Saturday, August 2-Sunday, August 3
Braves 4, Reds 2
Despite the fact that this ended up being the closest thing that we’ll get to a MLB version of Fyre Fest, the Braves are going to look back on this fondly as they ended up winning the inaugural (and probably the only) edition of the MLB Speedway Classic. It started on Saturday and after one of the most surreal pregame presentations you will ever see before a ballgame, the start of the game was delayed and the two teams attempted to get in a game despite playing in Southern U.S. summer rain conditions. That’s a horrible idea, so the game was suspended in the middle of the first inning.
Once the two teams returned to action, Hurston Waldrep became the new pitcher for Atlanta and delivered a mighty fine performance. Waldrep went nearly six innings and only gave up one run on three hits and two walks. That was a very encouraging performance from him, especially considering the circumstances surrounding it. The bullpen also held up, which is always a sight for sore eyes with the way things have gone around here lately.
However, this’ll likely be remembered as the game where Eli White decided that he really, really wanted to be the MVP of the Speedway Classic. White homered in the second inning in order to put Atlanta ahead 3-1 and then he delivered the coup de grace in the seventh, as his solo bomb in that inning gave the Braves a precious insurance run that the relief corps held onto. Flags fly forever, y’all — even if they’re checkered. Austin Riley did leave this game due to injury, just to remind y’all that it’s still 2025.
Despite the weird week, there’s no rest for the wicked as the Braves will now finally be returning home on a high note. They’ll be right back in action later on today against the Brewers (though the weather forecast for that game and the rest of this week is looking pretty bleak, to be honest) and then their next off day won’t come until next Monday. This week’s stretch includes a doubleheader on Saturday against the Marlins, so again, the Braves are jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire with this upcoming run of games.
Still, it feels nice to come back home feeling good after a tumultuous week on the road. The season is still unfathomably cooked but it does seem like bright spots are starting to emerge. Hurston Waldrep’s spot “start” was great, Eli White continues to be reliable in a pinch, Bryce Elder was even effective in his start and the offense only committed one serious disappearing act over the course of this Reds series. It’s bleak but it at least there are pieces of sunshine breaking through this stormy season.