<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uAZqD5kpfGLxOIwRS1gDxRUKucA=/0x0:5937x3958/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73397837/2156809179.0.jpg">
Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images
The top prospect’s debut started well but ended in disaster and the offense could only muster anything too little, too late, as is becoming a habit. After a disappointing first three games in DC, the Braves turned to their 2023 first-rounder, Hurston Waldrep on the mound to hopefully salvage a series split.
The first inning was quiet, with a Waldrep walk resulting in the only baserunner, which was later erased by Travis d’Arnaud throwing him out at second. Herz followed his scouting report in the second, issuing two walks and two wild pitches that combined with two singles to score two runs for Atlanta. Waldrep absolutely carved up Eddie Rosario for his first career MLB strikeout on three pitches.
FIRST major league strikeout for Hurston Waldrep!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/xfa4c86WMF— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 9, 2024
A grounder and an infield pop-up completed the 1-2-3 inning for Hurston. The third was as uneventful as the first, as a Matt Olson fielding error allowed a Washington baserunner for the only runner of the inning, only for it to be erased by a double play.
The Nationals went single, walk, sac fly, single to bring in their first runner of the game in the bottom of the fourth, and Keibert Ruiz homered on a fastball down and in to tack on another three, giving the home team a 4-2 lead. Waldrep struggled to reign in his command after the homer, issuing a walk, a swinging bunt single that should have ended the inning, and another walk. That ended his debut, which went quite well through 3 innings and rapidly fell apart in the fourth. Hurston will need to continue working on his command and establish his starter as a major league quality pitch to meet his substantial potential. Aaron Bummer got the call from the bullpen and allowed a three run double to CJ Abrams that had an xBA of .350 but nonetheless gave Washington a 7-2 lead that did not feel like something this version of the Braves offense would come back from.
A soft Kelenic single and an Austin Riley one out walk ended Herz’ outing after 4.1 innings. Herz did not have very good command at all today, but the current state of the Braves’ offense was just unable to do much other than take what he gave them with walks and wild pitches. Marcell Ozuna struck out looking on a borderline call on the bottom outside corner for the second out, but Matt Olson walked to load the bases, giving Adam Duvall a chance to get the Braves back into the game. In true 2024 Braves’ fashion, however, Duvall flied out to center, converting zero runs from two on with one out and bases loaded with two outs. Bummer got the fifth and issued a leadoff walk, a .390 xBA single, and another swinging bunt single to load the bases with no outs. A sac fly brought home one Washington run, and Bummer was replaced by Jesse Chavez, who got out of the inning with two strikeouts and a walk. That second strikeout was Chavez’ 1000th strikeout of his career, possibly the most positive outcome of the day for Atlanta. Orlando Arcia managed a two out single in an otherwise fruitless 6th for Atlanta.
Jesse got the sixth as well and got out of the inning with a strikeout and a walk. There wasn’t much remarkable until the ninth. Joe Jimenez and Raisel Iglesias each got an inning of work and were effective. Michael Harris and Orlando Arcia got on base with a single and a walk and Jarred Kelenic (who has been one of the less dark spots on the offense) crushed a three run homer. Ozzie Albies blooped in a single, but things did not go as well from there. Austin and Marcell flied out and Matt Olson struck out on three pitches to end another rough game for Atlanta.
We will be back Tuesday in Baltimore, which will not be an easy matchup for the Braves.
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uAZqD5kpfGLxOIwRS1gDxRUKucA=/0x0:5937x3958/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73397837/2156809179.0.jpg">
Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images
The top prospect’s debut started well but ended in disaster and the offense could only muster anything too little, too late, as is becoming a habit. After a disappointing first three games in DC, the Braves turned to their 2023 first-rounder, Hurston Waldrep on the mound to hopefully salvage a series split.
The first inning was quiet, with a Waldrep walk resulting in the only baserunner, which was later erased by Travis d’Arnaud throwing him out at second. Herz followed his scouting report in the second, issuing two walks and two wild pitches that combined with two singles to score two runs for Atlanta. Waldrep absolutely carved up Eddie Rosario for his first career MLB strikeout on three pitches.
FIRST major league strikeout for Hurston Waldrep!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/xfa4c86WMF— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 9, 2024
A grounder and an infield pop-up completed the 1-2-3 inning for Hurston. The third was as uneventful as the first, as a Matt Olson fielding error allowed a Washington baserunner for the only runner of the inning, only for it to be erased by a double play.
The Nationals went single, walk, sac fly, single to bring in their first runner of the game in the bottom of the fourth, and Keibert Ruiz homered on a fastball down and in to tack on another three, giving the home team a 4-2 lead. Waldrep struggled to reign in his command after the homer, issuing a walk, a swinging bunt single that should have ended the inning, and another walk. That ended his debut, which went quite well through 3 innings and rapidly fell apart in the fourth. Hurston will need to continue working on his command and establish his starter as a major league quality pitch to meet his substantial potential. Aaron Bummer got the call from the bullpen and allowed a three run double to CJ Abrams that had an xBA of .350 but nonetheless gave Washington a 7-2 lead that did not feel like something this version of the Braves offense would come back from.
A soft Kelenic single and an Austin Riley one out walk ended Herz’ outing after 4.1 innings. Herz did not have very good command at all today, but the current state of the Braves’ offense was just unable to do much other than take what he gave them with walks and wild pitches. Marcell Ozuna struck out looking on a borderline call on the bottom outside corner for the second out, but Matt Olson walked to load the bases, giving Adam Duvall a chance to get the Braves back into the game. In true 2024 Braves’ fashion, however, Duvall flied out to center, converting zero runs from two on with one out and bases loaded with two outs. Bummer got the fifth and issued a leadoff walk, a .390 xBA single, and another swinging bunt single to load the bases with no outs. A sac fly brought home one Washington run, and Bummer was replaced by Jesse Chavez, who got out of the inning with two strikeouts and a walk. That second strikeout was Chavez’ 1000th strikeout of his career, possibly the most positive outcome of the day for Atlanta. Orlando Arcia managed a two out single in an otherwise fruitless 6th for Atlanta.
Jesse got the sixth as well and got out of the inning with a strikeout and a walk. There wasn’t much remarkable until the ninth. Joe Jimenez and Raisel Iglesias each got an inning of work and were effective. Michael Harris and Orlando Arcia got on base with a single and a walk and Jarred Kelenic (who has been one of the less dark spots on the offense) crushed a three run homer. Ozzie Albies blooped in a single, but things did not go as well from there. Austin and Marcell flied out and Matt Olson struck out on three pitches to end another rough game for Atlanta.
We will be back Tuesday in Baltimore, which will not be an easy matchup for the Braves.
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