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    Takeaways from Atlanta's loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon

    The Braves have lost their first series since late May, breaking a streak of eleven straight series wins

    The Atlanta Braves dropped the rubber game of the series, 8-1, to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon to lose their first series since May. What can we take away from the contest? 

    Atlanta pitching can't catch a break

    Jul 16, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kolby Allard (49) leaves the game against the Chicago White Sox after being injured during the second inning at Truist Park.

    Atlanta sent Kolby Allard to the mound for this one, and if not for his day ending early due to shoulder soreness, it might have just been a hook from manager Brian Snitker. 

    The lefty wasn't particularly effective, giving up seven hits and four runs in 1.2 innings. He struggled to throw strikes and got knocked around. 

    After Allard was removed, Collin McHugh quickly warmed up and covered the (rest of 3rd and part of the 4th inning, allowing four hits and two runs, walking one and striking out two. Ben Heller got two clean outs to finish off the 4th, striking out one. 

    Michael Soroka got the first relief appearance of his career starting in the 5th inning, going three innings with three hits and two runs with three strikeouts and one homer. 

    Kirby Yates and Raisel Iglesias each pitched a clean inning for their first work since before the All-Star Break. 

    The Braves bullpen may be down AJ Minter, but no one's ben overworked or taxed on this homestand and with an off day tomorrow before the Braves host Arizona, everyone projects to be available.  

    Atlanta's hitters couldn't figure out vintage Dylan Cease

    Jul 16, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park.

    Cease, who was the AL CY Young runner up in 2022, hasn't looked like himself this season, with an ERA nearly two rus higher than what he put up last year. 

    But for one day, he brought back the dominating form. 

    Cease held Atlanta to three hits and only one run in his five innings of work, walking three and striking out six. Atlanta didn't collect their first hit until there were two outs in the 2nd inning and didn't score a run until Matt Olson's RBI single with two outs in the 3rd inning. 

    For the game, Atlanta finished with one run on five hits with eight strikeouts, and most notably did not hit a homerun. The Braves had a twenty-eight game home run streak, 2nd longest in MLB history, entering this game, but the record held by the 2019 Yankees (31 straight games) will remain intact. 

    The top of the order for Chicago just wrecked the Braves

    Jul 16, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (23) singles against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Truist Park.

    Chicago's 1-3 hitters went 9-14 on the game, scoring four runs and collecting five RBIs. Leadoff man Andrew Benintendi went 3-5, scoring each time he got on base, while #3 hitter Luis Robert Jr went 4-5 with 3 RBIs. 

    After getting two on in the 1st but not bringing anyone in, Chicago finally struck against an ailing Allard in the 2nd. Jake Burger hit a homerun to score two and after a walk, the top of the order strung together three straight singles to score two more runs and eventually chase an ailing Allard from the game. 

    For the contest, Chicago had 8 runs on 14 hits with only 8 strikeouts, and seven of the nine starters recorded a hit. 

    What's next? 

    The Braves have to let this one stew for a day - Monday's an off day before the 2nd place Arizona Diamondbacks come to town. Now two games back of the Dodgers in the National League West, Arizona dropped two out of three in early June to the Braves after Eddie Rosario decided he didn't like snakes and went 6-15 with three total homeruns (including a grand slam), a triple, and seven RBIs as Atlanta overcame to late deficits to win the series. 

    Game one of the matchup with the Diamondbacks in on Tuesday at 7:20 PM ET. The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports Southeast and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.

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