Atlanta’s bullpen blows another late lead in 6-3 loss
With Mike Soroka on the mound, the Braves knew all they needed to do was put up a couple of runs in order to have a good chance at winning and they executed that to perfection, but the bullpen was a problem yet again.
In the early going Dakota Hudson was being a tough customer, but rookie sensation Austin Riley was up for the challenge. With Josh Donaldson on base after a single Riley ripped a double to left field that gave the Braves an early 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Soroka breezed through the first three innings on just 23 pitches, but was struck by some rough luck in the bottom of the fourth inning as Paul Goldschmidt was able to reach on a catcher’s interference call. Then with two outs in the inning Goldschmidt was brought home on a single dumped into left center by Matt Carpenter to tie the game.
Then later in the fifth inning Soroka ran into more trouble after Yadi Molina hit a soft single to left leading off the inning. Soroka was quickly able to get two outs on the board, but was hit with more bad luck after hitting Dexter Fowler with a pitch to put runners on first and second for Goldschmidt. Goldy then singled to right field and Nick Markakis was unable to get the ball back in before a gimpy Molina was able to score.
With the Cardinals up 2-1 the Atlanta offense finally got back to work in the seventh inning against Hudson after Markakis led off the inning with a double. After a Riley lineout that left the bat at approximately 345 MPH, Tyler Flowers scorched a ball into the left field corner that nearly left the yard and brought home Markakis to tie things up.
The very next batter was Ozzie Albies who wasted no time putting a ball into the right field gap that had the Braves right back in front 3-2 going down the stretch.
Atlanta turned to Anthony Swarzak in the seventh inning and he made quick work of the Cardinals, but the story of the night was Dan Winkler in the bottom of the eighth. Winkler has been very good of late for the Braves, but tonight was not his night as he allowed four runs late that put things out of reach for the Braves.
Jedd Gyorko had the decisive blow with a three run pinch hit homer off of the bench that blew things wide open going into the final frame.
The Braves were tasked with facing the intimidating Jordan Hicks and his 100 MPH fastball in the ninth inning. Hicks was having none of it and the game was over in a flash.
Atlanta turns to tomorrow with a chance to win the series in St. Louis and continue their great play of the last two weeks. Stay tuned.
Gloss