Braves Today

TAKEAWAYS: Braves drop series finale to Washington, 6-2, to close homestand

The Atlanta Braves went 5-1 against the division this week, but just couldn't quite find the offense in the series finale

Lindsay Crosby

The Atlanta Braves, looking for their 2nd straight divisional series sweep, instead dropped the final game against Washington 6-2 on Sunday afternoon in Truist Park. What do you need to know about from this one? 

The Braves got out to their typical fast start

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Stop me if you've heard this before, but Atlanta scored in the first inning. 

Ronald Acuña Jr laced the first pitch he saw for a single - why opposing pitchers continue throwing him first pitch strikes is beyond me - giving Matt Olson a baserunner. 

With Nationals RHP Trevor Williams preoccupied about Ronald potentially stealing, he made a mistake on a fastball, leaving the 89.8 mph four-seamer on the inner third, belt high, and Olson did not miss it. 

The bomb went 421 feet, landing on top of the ChopHouse in right field, and Atlanta had a two-run lead within the first five pitches of the game.   

The Braves kept bobbing for bombs, to no avail

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Atlanta tried to continue hitting homers, but couldn't get another one to leave the park. The Braves stranded eight runners as they swung for the fences, with five of the seven hardest-hit balls being from Braves hitters and four Braves putting one at least 350 feet in the air.

Michael Harris II came the closest to getting a home run in the 6th, which would have scored two, were it not for outfielder Alex Call. Harris launched a Carl Edwards fastball 401 feet, only to get Michael Harris'd as Call sprinted to the wall and stole it, leaping above the yellow line to bring it back.

Atlanta finished the game with two runs on nine hits, stranding eight and going 0-4 with runners in scoring position. 

Bryce Elder got got in this one

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

All season, we've talked about how the peripherals didn't look great for Elder, but he somehow kept making everything work. 

It finally came back to get him in this one. 

Elder was charged with five runs on eight hits and one walk in five and a third innings, striking out only one and getting knocked out of the game in the 6th. Up 2-1 entering the frame, Elder opened the inning with a double to Luis Garcia, a wild pitch (advancing Garcia to 3rd), a single, and a Jeimer Candelario homer to make it 4-2 Washington. 

After giving up a one-out single to Keibert Ruiz, Elder was pulled for Kirby Yates, who promptly gave up an absolute NUKE to Dominic Smith - at 444 feet to right center, it was the longest home run of his career - to make the game 6-2 Washington. 

Washington finished the game with six runs on nine hits, going 2-3 with runners in scoring position and stranding only three.

What's next? 

Atlanta travels tonight to Detroit for a quick three game set - first pitch for Monday's series opener is at 6:40 PM ET, with Charlie Morton on the hill for Atlanta and Detroit going with a bullpen game. The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South 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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Lindsay Crosby
LINDSAY CROSBY

Managing Editor for Braves Today and the 2023 IBWAA Prospects/Minors Writer of the Year. You can reach him at contact@bravestoday.com

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