The Braves needed this one and now could only need a series win instead of a sweep, depending on the Mets game tonight
In another important game (as they all are at this point), the Braves turned to Grant Holmes to hopefully deliver a win against the unintimidating Darren McCaughan on the mound for the Marlins
The first inning started well, as Ozzie Albies crushed a righty on righty solo homer with one out. A single, walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases following Ozzie’s homer, but in true 2024 Braves’ fashion, a double play ended the inning with only the one run scored from the solo homer.
Welcome back, @ozzie!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/Can4UB9ON7
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 22, 2024
Jonah Bride hit a homer of his own, however, in the second to tie the game up at one. After that first inning, the only Brave to get on base through four innings was Gio Urshela, with a single and a double. Pretty brutal offense against an exceedingly hittable pitcher on the other side, giving McCaughan a season high in strikeouts at 5. In the fourth, Jake Burger destroyed another solo homer off Grant Holmes, giving the Marlins a 2-1 lead.
McCaughan was replaced going into the fifth, and Orlando Arcia singled to lead off the inning. Michael Harris delivered to tie the game with a RBI stand-up triple down the right field line. Two sharp ground balls later and it looked like it might be another 2024 Braves’ missed opportunity, but Matt Olson came through with a single to give Atlanta the lead. Jorge Soler grounded out to end the inning.
A walk and a double for the Marlins with no outs presented a threat to the Atlanta lead in the home fifth. That was the end of Holmes’ afternoon, as Dylan Lee took over. It is worth mentioning that keeping Grant Holmes of all people in the game after the leadoff walk with an off-day tomorrow in essentially a must-win game is a questionable decision. Lee did a brilliant job to strike out the first two batters and got a groundout to preserve the 1-run lead.
Gio Urshela came through again in the sixth, with a solo homer to add to what was a great day for him at the plate.
️ GIO!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/50z9UsyraY
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 22, 2024
Dylan Lee got the sixth and allowed back-to-back solo homers, tying the game back up and spelling the end of Dylan Lee’s appearance as Pierce Johnson took over. After Johnson did his job, Michael Harris and Matt Olson each singled on the ground to give Jorge Soler a chance to give Atlanta the lead with two outs. Jorge came through with a highly fortunate fortunate infield single of his own for a 5-4 Atlanta lead. Laureano struck out to end the rally, but the Braves had the lead that they needed, even if it was a narrow one.
Aaron Bummer was next out of the bullpen and Ramon Laureano did a brilliant job to cut off a leadoff single in left, getting it back to the infield in time to prevent it from becoming a double. A bunt turned into a single, putting men on first and second and then another bunt was fielder by Bummer, who went to third with it, but a backpedaling Urshela whiffed in his attempt to catch it, loading the bases with no outs. Bummer did well to strike out the next batter, before being pulled for Daysbel Hernandez. Bummer has a great ground ball rate and a strong strikeout rate as well, so I would question this move from Snitker, but Daysbel did strike out Norby and got a fortunate lineup, once again dancing through the raindrops to preserve the lead. Raisel Iglesias got the eighth after another scoreless inning from the offense and allowed a leadoff single before recording two outs. The Marlins managed another bloop single, but Raisel struck out Hill to stifle the rally. The Braves offense went down without a threat in the ninth and Iglesias got three contact outs to close out the game.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was a very resilient win for Atlanta to escape some jams and get just enough offense, even as they disappointed against McClaughan early on. Now we pull for Zach Wheeler and the Phillies (that felt weird to type) tonight and then look forward to the huge Mets series this week.