The Atlanta Braves (11-11) had their chances tonight against the Cincinnati Reds (9-13) in Cincinnati. Up 4-3 in the top of the 6th inning, they drove Reds starter Sonny Gray out of the ballgame. Braves starting pitcher Kevin Gausman didn’t last even the bottom half of the 6th. As soon as the Braves got the lead, Gausman and reliever Jesse Biddle gave it away with four runs in the bottom of the 6th. But in the end the Reds came out on top 7-6 to take game one of the three game series.
The scary thing for the opposing teams that play against the Braves is the Braves offense from top to bottom can score runs, and these runs can come in bunches. But if the Braves are going to hang tight in the NL East, they are going to have to score close to 10 runs a game. Starting pitching is solid, but the relief pitching is what will lose games for the Braves this season. Gone are the days of wishing the Braves would sign closer Craig Kimbrel. If the Braves would have signed him, they would have signed him by now after then closer Arodys Vizcaino was lost for the season with an apparent arm injury.
So this is what we have Braves fans. An offense that has to score a ton of runs and then leave it in the hands of our bullpen and would be closer AJ Minter.
Kirkley's Sports Korner 