<img alt="MLB: Playoffs- Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EvKea-ZwX65jeSkDiLQZXnKkFj4=/0x0:4928x3285/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73625783/usa_today_24377885.0.jpg">
Ozuna struggled tonight against the Padres | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
As feared, the Braves offense was once again anemic in a big game. The Bullpen was fantastic as they carried the game for 6.2 innings The Atlanta Braves faced the San Diego Padres in game one of the Wild Card Series at Petco Park. The Braves just squeezed into the playoffs as they clinched on the final game of the season. This resulted in using a lot of pitching in the past few days. Add in that Chris Sale got scratched for the series, and the Braves were in a bad spot.
Ultimately, the Braves opted to start AJ Smith-Shawver despite him only have pitched 4.1 innings at the MLB level this season. The Braves were limited on options, so it is hard to blame anyone for the decision.
The Braves started off the game in the top of the first looking like they may be able to make something happen. Michael Harris continued his hot streak by getting on via a single. It was followed by strikeouts from Albies and Ozuna, but Olson was able to also single to put runners on the corners. Unfortunately, Soler also struck out to end the top of the inning.
Smith-Shawver was not able to replicate his counterpart. Luis Arraez led off the bottom of the first with a single and then Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a moonshot over the wall in left center to make the scored 0-2. Smith-Shawver was able to settle down and limit the damage to just one more hit when he gave up a single to Jackson Merrill.
If @PetcoPark had a roof, it would be gone pic.twitter.com/iQNM6aXVyb— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 2, 2024
In the top of the second, the Braves were silenced. Laureano flied out, d’Arnaud grounded out, and Urshela also flied out. The inning took Michael King a total of twelve pitches.
When Smith-Shawver took the mound in the second, he was not able to shake off his first inning woes. He hit Jake Cronenworth, although to be fair, it was questionable at best if it actually hit him. Solano then singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Higashioka then hit a sac fly to score Cronenworth to make the score 0-3. That spelled the end of the night for Smith-Shawver who was replaced by Aaron Bummer. Bummer then did his job and got Arraez to ground into a double play to end the inning.
In the Braves’ half of the third there was another shimmer of hope. Arcia struck out, but Harris hit another single. Albies once again could not move Harris over when he also struck out. Ozuna singled to put two runners on, but Olson struck out as well to end the top of the inning.
Aaron Bummer stayed in to pitch the third. He walked Tatis Jr. but then was able to get Profar to fly out and then induced his second double play in as may innings to end the third.
In the fourth, Soler flied out followed by a strikeout out from Laureano, but the Braves did get another baserunner when d’Arnaud doubled. However, the Braves could not capitalize as Gio Urshela struck out. Through four innings, the Braves struck out seven times. Six of those strikeouts were with at least one runner on base.
Bummer stayed in the game again and was able to produce a clean inning in which he induced two groundouts and a strikeout of Cronenworth.
The Braves were yet again anemic on offense when they went three-up-three-down in the fifth. Fortunately, Jesse Chavez came in for the Braves in the fifth and was able to do the same thing to the Padres.
It was more of the same for the Braves in the sixth. Another inning with the minimum number of hitters. This time it was the heart of the order with Ozuna, Olson, and Soler being sat down via a strikeout, fly out, and strikeout, respectively.
Chavez stayed in the game in the sixth and remained clutch. He retired the side while facing the heart of the order in Tatis Jr., Profar, and Machado.
The Braves yet again were silent in the seventh. None of Laureano, d’Arnaud, or Urshela could get on base. The same could be said for the Padres as well though. Luke Jackson came in to relieve Chavez and got the job done by recording a strikeout, ground out, and fly out. He did so on only nine pitches.
The Padres finally replaced Michael Kind in the eighth inning with Jason Adam. It did not seem to matter though. Arcia and Harris both struck out back-to-back. Albies finally was able to get on base when he hit a single, followed by stealing second base. However, regular season hero, Ozuna, struck out on a sweeper way out of the zone to end the momentum.
Luke Jackson stayed in the game to pitch the bottom of the eighth. This turned out to be a bad decision. He was able to get Solano to strike out, but then Higashioki took him deep over the center field wall to make the score zero to four. Jackson settled down and got Arraez to line out and Tatis Jr. to groundout.
It came down to the Braves last hope for the game in the top of the ninth down four runs. Robert Suárez entered the game for the Padres. Olson was the first one up to the plate. Olson flied out on a ball he hit 102 MPH. Soler was able to get a spark going when he hit a single, and then was replaced by Eli White. Laureano grounded into a force out bit then was able to move to second on defensive indifference. With a runner on second with two outs, Travis d’Arnaud was the last hope for the game. He grounded out to third base on the second pitch he saw.
The Braves’ offense once again failed them in a big game. Sure, the Braves were at a disadvantage having to start AJ Smith-Shawver, but it did not matter who they started because they were not able to score a single run.
Max Fried will be taking the mound tomorrow night for the Braves at 8:38 ET at Petco Park in a win or go home game for the Braves.
<img alt="MLB: Playoffs- Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EvKea-ZwX65jeSkDiLQZXnKkFj4=/0x0:4928x3285/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73625783/usa_today_24377885.0.jpg">
Ozuna struggled tonight against the Padres | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
As feared, the Braves offense was once again anemic in a big game. The Bullpen was fantastic as they carried the game for 6.2 innings The Atlanta Braves faced the San Diego Padres in game one of the Wild Card Series at Petco Park. The Braves just squeezed into the playoffs as they clinched on the final game of the season. This resulted in using a lot of pitching in the past few days. Add in that Chris Sale got scratched for the series, and the Braves were in a bad spot.
Ultimately, the Braves opted to start AJ Smith-Shawver despite him only have pitched 4.1 innings at the MLB level this season. The Braves were limited on options, so it is hard to blame anyone for the decision.
The Braves started off the game in the top of the first looking like they may be able to make something happen. Michael Harris continued his hot streak by getting on via a single. It was followed by strikeouts from Albies and Ozuna, but Olson was able to also single to put runners on the corners. Unfortunately, Soler also struck out to end the top of the inning.
Smith-Shawver was not able to replicate his counterpart. Luis Arraez led off the bottom of the first with a single and then Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a moonshot over the wall in left center to make the scored 0-2. Smith-Shawver was able to settle down and limit the damage to just one more hit when he gave up a single to Jackson Merrill.
If @PetcoPark had a roof, it would be gone pic.twitter.com/iQNM6aXVyb— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 2, 2024
In the top of the second, the Braves were silenced. Laureano flied out, d’Arnaud grounded out, and Urshela also flied out. The inning took Michael King a total of twelve pitches.
When Smith-Shawver took the mound in the second, he was not able to shake off his first inning woes. He hit Jake Cronenworth, although to be fair, it was questionable at best if it actually hit him. Solano then singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Higashioka then hit a sac fly to score Cronenworth to make the score 0-3. That spelled the end of the night for Smith-Shawver who was replaced by Aaron Bummer. Bummer then did his job and got Arraez to ground into a double play to end the inning.
In the Braves’ half of the third there was another shimmer of hope. Arcia struck out, but Harris hit another single. Albies once again could not move Harris over when he also struck out. Ozuna singled to put two runners on, but Olson struck out as well to end the top of the inning.
Aaron Bummer stayed in to pitch the third. He walked Tatis Jr. but then was able to get Profar to fly out and then induced his second double play in as may innings to end the third.
In the fourth, Soler flied out followed by a strikeout out from Laureano, but the Braves did get another baserunner when d’Arnaud doubled. However, the Braves could not capitalize as Gio Urshela struck out. Through four innings, the Braves struck out seven times. Six of those strikeouts were with at least one runner on base.
Bummer stayed in the game again and was able to produce a clean inning in which he induced two groundouts and a strikeout of Cronenworth.
The Braves were yet again anemic on offense when they went three-up-three-down in the fifth. Fortunately, Jesse Chavez came in for the Braves in the fifth and was able to do the same thing to the Padres.
It was more of the same for the Braves in the sixth. Another inning with the minimum number of hitters. This time it was the heart of the order with Ozuna, Olson, and Soler being sat down via a strikeout, fly out, and strikeout, respectively.
Chavez stayed in the game in the sixth and remained clutch. He retired the side while facing the heart of the order in Tatis Jr., Profar, and Machado.
The Braves yet again were silent in the seventh. None of Laureano, d’Arnaud, or Urshela could get on base. The same could be said for the Padres as well though. Luke Jackson came in to relieve Chavez and got the job done by recording a strikeout, ground out, and fly out. He did so on only nine pitches.
The Padres finally replaced Michael Kind in the eighth inning with Jason Adam. It did not seem to matter though. Arcia and Harris both struck out back-to-back. Albies finally was able to get on base when he hit a single, followed by stealing second base. However, regular season hero, Ozuna, struck out on a sweeper way out of the zone to end the momentum.
Luke Jackson stayed in the game to pitch the bottom of the eighth. This turned out to be a bad decision. He was able to get Solano to strike out, but then Higashioki took him deep over the center field wall to make the score zero to four. Jackson settled down and got Arraez to line out and Tatis Jr. to groundout.
It came down to the Braves last hope for the game in the top of the ninth down four runs. Robert Suárez entered the game for the Padres. Olson was the first one up to the plate. Olson flied out on a ball he hit 102 MPH. Soler was able to get a spark going when he hit a single, and then was replaced by Eli White. Laureano grounded into a force out bit then was able to move to second on defensive indifference. With a runner on second with two outs, Travis d’Arnaud was the last hope for the game. He grounded out to third base on the second pitch he saw.
The Braves’ offense once again failed them in a big game. Sure, the Braves were at a disadvantage having to start AJ Smith-Shawver, but it did not matter who they started because they were not able to score a single run.
Max Fried will be taking the mound tomorrow night for the Braves at 8:38 ET at Petco Park in a win or go home game for the Braves.
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