So as the final out was made in the Braves 6-7 loss in game to the St. Louis Cardinals at SunTrust Park, all I could think of was “here we go again.” And yes, I have that feeling again, that dejected feeling that my team is never going to get over the hump. No, I am not going to write an article after every game. I just wanted to write this article no that I have a little time tonight. The difference in this game and games from the past is the Braves were in this game with the Cardinals, and the game went back and forth. But the Red Birds got the last laugh at the Braves and they actually have home field now in the best three out of five.
Miscues were actually made by both teams as the Cardinals made three errors in the field and the Braves made miscues at the plate. Few of the notable mistakes came by Ronald Acuna, Jr., he got thrown out stealing second base in the bottom of the first inning. Ozzie Albies singled the next at bat and the Braves scored one run that inning. If Acuna didn’t steal Braves would be up 2-0, which would have helped later in the game. The next miscue came by the likes of Acuna, Jr again. He watched and trotted to first base as he hit a deep ball to right field down the line. He glared at the ball as if he just hit a home run. The ball ended up hitting on the brick and bouncing back in play. If the young 21-year old would have run hard, which he is suppose to do no matter what, he would have been at second, and would not been picked off at second later in the inning when Josh Donaldson lined out to shortstop, and then Acuna, Jr. pick off at second. That play would have never happened because if he would have hustled, Acuna, Jr. would have been at third. But we shouldn’t dwell because he is just a young player. He has to learn and do better as a veteran in years to come. Acuna, Jr did redeem himself, sort of, in the bottom of the ninth by hitting a two run homerun followed by 1B Freddie Freeman’s blast to center to pull the deficit to one run. The bat before Freeman, if 2b Ozzie Albis would have eaten one more bite of wheaties this morning, he would have beat out the infield hit.But again, that’s what makes this game so great. Even if my team does lose.
An injury update for the Braves. Relief pitcher Chris Martin had to leave the game after only pitching one warm up pitch on the mound as he tweaked his left oblique. He is done for the rest of the division series. The team will reassess if the Braves win this series. That injury was huge because Luke Jackson came in, and we know why happens when Jackson comes in. He gave a second pitch homerun to Paul Goldschmidt.
Tomorrow is another day and another game. Braves lose tomorrow the divisional series is a wrap. The series then moves to St. Louis, and the history of the Cardinals just means bad things for the Braves. Game time for Friday’s game at SunTrust Park is set for 4:37 pm.
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