If the 2021 Atlanta Braves season ended today July 2, 2021, I would sum up the season in one word, inconsistent. The team has been seemingly looking for that game all season that is the one they will look back on as a difference maker to get the season turned around. The one win that puts them on a run where they win the next 12 out of 15. So far, they have had a few signatures wins per say, but have not been able to make a pro-longed run to move to the top of the NL East standings, or even over .500
On paper, the game last night had the makings to be a great pitchers duel, and for the most part that held true. Ian Anderson has been one of the more consistent pitchers for the Atlanta Braves, facing the best starting pitcher in the world, Jacob deGrom.
The first inning got off to a rocky start. Anderson looked shaky early, giving up a quick walk, stolen base and base hit to put the Braves in a 1-0 hole against Jacob deGrom, which may as well be 10 runs against the reigning Cy Young Winner.
The tide shifted quickly as leadoff hitter Ehire Adrianza, who was a last minute lineup addition for an ailing Ronald Acuna Jr. slashed a grounder down the first base line. Aggressive baserunning led to Adrianza being thrown out at third. This was a pivotal moment in the game against a pitcher like deGrom, where early runs, let along runs at all, are seemingly unheard off (hence 0.69 era entering the game) . The Braves wisely challenged, and the call was overturned. Two batter’s later the run scored on an Albies base hit.
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| Early aggressive baserunning proved both high risk/high reward |
With the score tied at one, Austin Riley took a 99 MPH fastball and deposited it just over the right field Chop House wall. What had transpired in just a short few minutes against the games best pitcher was almost unthinkable, yet the Braves led three to one after the first frame.
Both pitchers would really settle in after that point. Apparently, the Braves angered deGrom with their three-run first inning outburst as he would go on to pitch 7 innings and strike out 14 batters. He did not give up a hit after the second inning. At one point his strike to ball ratio was close to 5/1. His fastball was still hitting 99 in the sixth inning. I could never pull for an opposing pitcher, but watching deGrom is something else. He is simply a magician on the mound and is and on a different level than any starting pitcher in the game right now.
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| Take away one inning, and Jacob deGrom's performance was dazzling |
Anderson’s only other blemish came on a seventh inning Dom Smith solo homerun to cut the deficit to 3-2. After 7 strong innings from Anderson the Braves turned it over to their leaky bullpen. Chris Martin survived trouble in the eight, but Dom Smith struck again in the top ninth against fellow Smith , Will, to tie the game.
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| Ian Anderson deserved better, a ninth inning blown lead took away his chance to win the game |
The game would head to the bottom of the ninth, and the Braves would have a chance to win. These games for the most part in 2021 that have been close late or right in the grasp of a late win, the Braves have lost for the most part. A rather dramatic bottom of the ninth led to a Freddie Freeman walk off single. It was rather fitting for the reigning MVP who came into the game winning at bat 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts.
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| Freddie Freeman's four strikeout night was quickly forgotten with a game winning base hit |
This was the type of win the Braves needed. A loss would have been another head shaking night in a season that has been full of them. Despite blowing a late 3-0 lead late in game 1, the Braves won the series and sit just 3.5 games back of the Metropolitans heading into tonight’s contest against the fish.
The Braves finish the first half of the season with a very favorable schedule including six games with the Marlins and a three-game series mixed in with the Pirates. If there was ever an opportunity to take momentum and run with it from last night's win, now is the time. The Braves are at the 80-game mark, they haven’t been above the .500 mark all year. Many wonder if they will break that mark, including myself. If they are going to break that mark and not think about .500 again in 2021, this is the time.
The Braves have proved this year they can still compete with the best of the best, as we saw in last night’s playoff esc game. What they need is more night in night out consistent performances. The starting pitching has stabilized, and we all know this offense is more despite the missing presence of Ozuna and Travis d'Arnaud. Help could be on the way sometime this summer in the form of d'Arnaud and the return of Yona to add starting pitching depth. |
| Acuna has carried this team at times, the Braves will need other regulars to step up int he final months of the season to have a chance to win the division |
