<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at Baltimore Orioles" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3stThloVAAu8OdJiHTaRzqmC8LA=/1x0:6115x4076/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73406221/usa_today_23538441.0.jpg">
Reynaldo López dominated once again | Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
The offense and the pitching were both working as the Braves beat the Orioles The Atlanta Braves, desperate for a win, took on the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon in the final game of a three-game set. They were looking to end their longest losing streak since 2017.
Many of the Braves have had success against Cole Irvin in the past, but they have not faced him since he was a member of the Oakland Athletics in 2022. The hopes were obviously that the offense could get going after scoring only two runs so far in the series.
The first three hitters for the Braves did not disappoint. Michael Harris led it off with a single followed by back-to-back doubles from Ozzie Albies and Marcel Ozuna to make the score 2-0 with zero outs. This was Ozuna’s fifth hit in eight at bats, raising his season OPS over the thousand mark at 1.001.
Stay hot, Marcell!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/X6cr6VLX5V— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 13, 2024
Unfortunately, the runner was stranded on second when Olson struck out, followed by a lineout from Riley, and a strikeout to d’Arnaud.
In the second inning, things were not as pretty. Kelenic, who had a career .444 average against Irvin before the game, had a single. Other than that, Irvin dominated the side by striking out Duvall, Arcia, and Harris. At this point, the five of the six outs from the Braves have been strikeouts.
In the third inning it looked like the Braves were going to be able to add some insurance runs. Albies led it off with a single, followed by an Ozuna walk. But, Olson lined out to center field. Riley then hit a groundball that resulted in a force out at second moved Albies to third. With runners on the corners d’Arnaud ended the inning on a flyball. The good news was the Braves up this point were producing baserunners in spades, so some of them had to be bound to score eventually.
The fourth inning finally resulted in some insurance after the Braves continued to get runners on. Duvall was able to lead it off with a single, but there were back-to-back outs to make it two outs with one on. Irvin was finally able to get Kelenic out, and Arcia flied out. The Braves finally had some luck go their way when Michael Harris reached on an error when Henderson fumbled a toss from Mateo. Albies was able to take advantage of this mistake by depositing a single to left field, which scored the speedy Michael Harris to make the score 3-0. With runners on the corners, Irvin was able to get the fire hot Ozuna to fly out to end the inning.
The Braves were silenced in the fifth, not being able to get a baserunner this time, but the sixth was a different story. Duvall singled to lead off the sixth. Kelenic hit into a fielder’s choice, avoiding the double play and replacing Duvall at first base. Orlando Arcia, whom has been struggling mightily as of late, finally came through with a clutch double that scored Kelenic from first base to make the score 4-0.
Make it 4!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/JrzijqAPRM— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 13, 2024
With Arcia on second, Harris struck out swinging, and that was the end of Irvin’s afternoon. He was replaced by Bryan Baker, who was able to get Albies to fly out, which was a hard thing to do this game.
The seventh resulted in even more Braves baserunners. Ozuna had yet another hit in this series with a single. Olson was able to avoid a double play ball when he hit into a force out at second. Riley then came through with a single of his own to put runners on first and second with one out.
The eighth inning ended the streak of innings with a baserunner. After Baker got Duvall fly out and was replaced by old friend Jacob Webb who struck out Kelenic and induced a groundball to end the inning. This would not have been that big of a deal, except now the Braves were only up by one run with the score being 4-3.
Cionel Pérez replaced Webb and this turned out to be just what the Braves needed. The Braves got a little luck when Harris reached on an error. Albies doubled shortly after to put runners on second and third with no outs. Ozuna grounded out, but by some more fortune, Harris was able to score on a wild pitch making the score 5-3. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Olson doubled off the right field wall to score Albies and make the score 6-3. Riley struck out, to make it two outs, but then d’Arnaud reached when he was hit by a pitch. Duvall just missed a three-run HR when he hit a 101.1 MPH scorcher to the warning track that was caught to end the top of the ninth. The Braves’ offense ended the night with six runs on twelve hits and one walk.
As per usual it seems, Reynaldo López started off the game in scoreless fashion. López has yet to give up a run in the first inning this season. To be fair, the first inning did not start flawlessly. Gunnar Henderson did his best Ronald Acuña Jr. impression and led it off with a single and a stolen base. However, López was able to induce a strikeout, popup, and flyout to end the inning with no damage caused.
In the second inning it started off with a controversial play at first base. On a groundball to Austin Riley from Jordan Westburg. He was initially called out on a close play, but then the play was overturned awarding Westburg with a single. Fortunately, López was able to retire the next three hitters. Prior to this game, he had an ERA of 0.86 in the second inning this year, and this outing only helped.
The third inning was López’s sharpest inning yet as he was able to get through the minimum number of hitters while picking up strikeouts of young starts Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. The fourth inning was also no problem for López as he went three-up-three down for his second straight inning to make it nine straight hitters with no base runners allowed. In the fifth inning he went three-up-three down for the third straight inning, picking up strikeouts of Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers.
López stayed in for the sixth inning and continued to dominate this potent Orioles lineup. He did walk his first batter of the night when he issued a free pass to Adley Rutschman but was able to retire the rest of the hitters he faced with no damage. The walk ended his streak of fourteen straight hitters.
López ended his afternoon going 6.0 innings in which he gave up two singles, one walk, eight strikeouts, and zero earned runs. It is safe to say that he should be in consideration for the All-Star Team.
Pierce Johnson took over for López in the seventh inning and was able to start strong with a strikeout to Anthony Santander, but Westburg hit the Orioles’ first extra base hit of the afternoon off of Johnson with a double to center field. Johnson responded nicely with a strikeout to Cowser, but then walked Mullins. This walk came back to bite Johnson as Stowers made the score 4-3 on one swing with his first HR of the season. Fortunetily, Mateo hit a groundout before more damage could be done.
Joe Jiménez relieved Johnson in the eighth, and other than a single to O’Hearn, was able to get out of the inning with no damage done. Raisel Iglesias came in to close things out. Not without some drama, Westburg was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Then, the Braves challenged the call on the field when Cowser grounded out. Ultimately the call was upheld and only one out was recorded. Mullins then singled and put two men on with one out. Stowers flied out to make it two outs with two on. Mountcastle came in to pinch hit for Mateo. Iglesias was able to get him to ground out, mitigating any damage done and securing the save.
The Braves wan 6-3 on a solid team effort from both the pitching and the hitting. The pitching only gave up three hits, while the offense produced twelve of their own. López is looking more and more like an All-Star shoe in and a much needed offensive breakout with four hits included two doubles.
The Braves are set to play the Rays tomorrow in what will hopefully be the start of a winning streak.
<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at Baltimore Orioles" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3stThloVAAu8OdJiHTaRzqmC8LA=/1x0:6115x4076/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73406221/usa_today_23538441.0.jpg">
Reynaldo López dominated once again | Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
The offense and the pitching were both working as the Braves beat the Orioles The Atlanta Braves, desperate for a win, took on the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon in the final game of a three-game set. They were looking to end their longest losing streak since 2017.
Many of the Braves have had success against Cole Irvin in the past, but they have not faced him since he was a member of the Oakland Athletics in 2022. The hopes were obviously that the offense could get going after scoring only two runs so far in the series.
The first three hitters for the Braves did not disappoint. Michael Harris led it off with a single followed by back-to-back doubles from Ozzie Albies and Marcel Ozuna to make the score 2-0 with zero outs. This was Ozuna’s fifth hit in eight at bats, raising his season OPS over the thousand mark at 1.001.
Stay hot, Marcell!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/X6cr6VLX5V— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 13, 2024
Unfortunately, the runner was stranded on second when Olson struck out, followed by a lineout from Riley, and a strikeout to d’Arnaud.
In the second inning, things were not as pretty. Kelenic, who had a career .444 average against Irvin before the game, had a single. Other than that, Irvin dominated the side by striking out Duvall, Arcia, and Harris. At this point, the five of the six outs from the Braves have been strikeouts.
In the third inning it looked like the Braves were going to be able to add some insurance runs. Albies led it off with a single, followed by an Ozuna walk. But, Olson lined out to center field. Riley then hit a groundball that resulted in a force out at second moved Albies to third. With runners on the corners d’Arnaud ended the inning on a flyball. The good news was the Braves up this point were producing baserunners in spades, so some of them had to be bound to score eventually.
The fourth inning finally resulted in some insurance after the Braves continued to get runners on. Duvall was able to lead it off with a single, but there were back-to-back outs to make it two outs with one on. Irvin was finally able to get Kelenic out, and Arcia flied out. The Braves finally had some luck go their way when Michael Harris reached on an error when Henderson fumbled a toss from Mateo. Albies was able to take advantage of this mistake by depositing a single to left field, which scored the speedy Michael Harris to make the score 3-0. With runners on the corners, Irvin was able to get the fire hot Ozuna to fly out to end the inning.
The Braves were silenced in the fifth, not being able to get a baserunner this time, but the sixth was a different story. Duvall singled to lead off the sixth. Kelenic hit into a fielder’s choice, avoiding the double play and replacing Duvall at first base. Orlando Arcia, whom has been struggling mightily as of late, finally came through with a clutch double that scored Kelenic from first base to make the score 4-0.
Make it 4!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/JrzijqAPRM— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 13, 2024
With Arcia on second, Harris struck out swinging, and that was the end of Irvin’s afternoon. He was replaced by Bryan Baker, who was able to get Albies to fly out, which was a hard thing to do this game.
The seventh resulted in even more Braves baserunners. Ozuna had yet another hit in this series with a single. Olson was able to avoid a double play ball when he hit into a force out at second. Riley then came through with a single of his own to put runners on first and second with one out.
The eighth inning ended the streak of innings with a baserunner. After Baker got Duvall fly out and was replaced by old friend Jacob Webb who struck out Kelenic and induced a groundball to end the inning. This would not have been that big of a deal, except now the Braves were only up by one run with the score being 4-3.
Cionel Pérez replaced Webb and this turned out to be just what the Braves needed. The Braves got a little luck when Harris reached on an error. Albies doubled shortly after to put runners on second and third with no outs. Ozuna grounded out, but by some more fortune, Harris was able to score on a wild pitch making the score 5-3. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Olson doubled off the right field wall to score Albies and make the score 6-3. Riley struck out, to make it two outs, but then d’Arnaud reached when he was hit by a pitch. Duvall just missed a three-run HR when he hit a 101.1 MPH scorcher to the warning track that was caught to end the top of the ninth. The Braves’ offense ended the night with six runs on twelve hits and one walk.
As per usual it seems, Reynaldo López started off the game in scoreless fashion. López has yet to give up a run in the first inning this season. To be fair, the first inning did not start flawlessly. Gunnar Henderson did his best Ronald Acuña Jr. impression and led it off with a single and a stolen base. However, López was able to induce a strikeout, popup, and flyout to end the inning with no damage caused.
In the second inning it started off with a controversial play at first base. On a groundball to Austin Riley from Jordan Westburg. He was initially called out on a close play, but then the play was overturned awarding Westburg with a single. Fortunately, López was able to retire the next three hitters. Prior to this game, he had an ERA of 0.86 in the second inning this year, and this outing only helped.
The third inning was López’s sharpest inning yet as he was able to get through the minimum number of hitters while picking up strikeouts of young starts Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. The fourth inning was also no problem for López as he went three-up-three down for his second straight inning to make it nine straight hitters with no base runners allowed. In the fifth inning he went three-up-three down for the third straight inning, picking up strikeouts of Colton Cowser and Kyle Stowers.
López stayed in for the sixth inning and continued to dominate this potent Orioles lineup. He did walk his first batter of the night when he issued a free pass to Adley Rutschman but was able to retire the rest of the hitters he faced with no damage. The walk ended his streak of fourteen straight hitters.
López ended his afternoon going 6.0 innings in which he gave up two singles, one walk, eight strikeouts, and zero earned runs. It is safe to say that he should be in consideration for the All-Star Team.
Pierce Johnson took over for López in the seventh inning and was able to start strong with a strikeout to Anthony Santander, but Westburg hit the Orioles’ first extra base hit of the afternoon off of Johnson with a double to center field. Johnson responded nicely with a strikeout to Cowser, but then walked Mullins. This walk came back to bite Johnson as Stowers made the score 4-3 on one swing with his first HR of the season. Fortunetily, Mateo hit a groundout before more damage could be done.
Joe Jiménez relieved Johnson in the eighth, and other than a single to O’Hearn, was able to get out of the inning with no damage done. Raisel Iglesias came in to close things out. Not without some drama, Westburg was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Then, the Braves challenged the call on the field when Cowser grounded out. Ultimately the call was upheld and only one out was recorded. Mullins then singled and put two men on with one out. Stowers flied out to make it two outs with two on. Mountcastle came in to pinch hit for Mateo. Iglesias was able to get him to ground out, mitigating any damage done and securing the save.
The Braves wan 6-3 on a solid team effort from both the pitching and the hitting. The pitching only gave up three hits, while the offense produced twelve of their own. López is looking more and more like an All-Star shoe in and a much needed offensive breakout with four hits included two doubles.
The Braves are set to play the Rays tomorrow in what will hopefully be the start of a winning streak.
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