<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Angels" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fqoyb11NLf1Is6prlNI6e63PNUo=/0x0:4658x3105/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73526860/usa_today_24016673.0.jpg">
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
In the time it took you to read this sentence, the Braves left two more runners on base. It was more of the same for the Braves on Friday night in Anaheim, squandering opportunities and failing to execute with runners in scoring position in a 3-2 loss.
For a team that had some good mojo following three wins in San Francisco, it has quickly gone down the drain with back to back losses and just two runs scored over the last 18 innings. Bonus points for wasting another strong effort from Spencer Schwellenbach.
The Braves had numerous chances in the early innings against Angels starter Jose Soriano, but they were unable to do anything with it until finally breaking through in the fourth. Marcell Ozuna bloop singled, Matt Olson walked, and Sean Murphy roped a ball down the line to give Atlanta the lead. Jarred Kelenic followed shortly after with an infield chop to score another run.
The lead was short lived as Logan O’Hopped crushed a slider down in the zone 407 feet to center field to tie it at 2-2. If there’s been one knock on Schwellenbach’s super season, it’s the home run ball.
The Angels would take the lead in the sixth as Schwellenbach seemed to run out of gas with back to back walks to start the inning. Pierce Johnson entered and recorded two outs without any damage, but a curveball left up in the zone allowed Anaheim to take a 3-2 lead.
Austin Riley made a ridiculous diving grab and throw to keep the deficit at one. I still have no idea what Jo Adell was doing, but all help is appreciated.
Gold Glove-level play for Austin Riley pic.twitter.com/caRT7wZRXa— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 17, 2024
It was a night of missed opportunities for the Braves, who loaded the bases in the fifth and couldn’t score. They had two on and one out in the eighth, just for Whit Merrifield to bounce into a 5-4-3 double play. They put the leadoff runner on base six times and only scored him once. They were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position with 11 left on base. They somehow only scored two runs with eight hits, seven walks and a HBP.
The series continues Saturday night with Cy Young frontrunner Chris Sale set to square off with Griffin Canning, who has been pretty bad this season (4-10, 5.11 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 4.85 xFIP). First pitch is set for 9:38 p.m. ET once again, but there’s good news: it’s the final west coast night game of the regular season.
<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Angels" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fqoyb11NLf1Is6prlNI6e63PNUo=/0x0:4658x3105/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73526860/usa_today_24016673.0.jpg">
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
In the time it took you to read this sentence, the Braves left two more runners on base. It was more of the same for the Braves on Friday night in Anaheim, squandering opportunities and failing to execute with runners in scoring position in a 3-2 loss.
For a team that had some good mojo following three wins in San Francisco, it has quickly gone down the drain with back to back losses and just two runs scored over the last 18 innings. Bonus points for wasting another strong effort from Spencer Schwellenbach.
The Braves had numerous chances in the early innings against Angels starter Jose Soriano, but they were unable to do anything with it until finally breaking through in the fourth. Marcell Ozuna bloop singled, Matt Olson walked, and Sean Murphy roped a ball down the line to give Atlanta the lead. Jarred Kelenic followed shortly after with an infield chop to score another run.
The lead was short lived as Logan O’Hopped crushed a slider down in the zone 407 feet to center field to tie it at 2-2. If there’s been one knock on Schwellenbach’s super season, it’s the home run ball.
The Angels would take the lead in the sixth as Schwellenbach seemed to run out of gas with back to back walks to start the inning. Pierce Johnson entered and recorded two outs without any damage, but a curveball left up in the zone allowed Anaheim to take a 3-2 lead.
Austin Riley made a ridiculous diving grab and throw to keep the deficit at one. I still have no idea what Jo Adell was doing, but all help is appreciated.
Gold Glove-level play for Austin Riley pic.twitter.com/caRT7wZRXa— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 17, 2024
It was a night of missed opportunities for the Braves, who loaded the bases in the fifth and couldn’t score. They had two on and one out in the eighth, just for Whit Merrifield to bounce into a 5-4-3 double play. They put the leadoff runner on base six times and only scored him once. They were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position with 11 left on base. They somehow only scored two runs with eight hits, seven walks and a HBP.
The series continues Saturday night with Cy Young frontrunner Chris Sale set to square off with Griffin Canning, who has been pretty bad this season (4-10, 5.11 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 4.85 xFIP). First pitch is set for 9:38 p.m. ET once again, but there’s good news: it’s the final west coast night game of the regular season.
Link to original article
