There was a big homer and the Braves once again relied on Zach Thompson to eat a bunch of innings
Was Crowded House singing about Spring Training when they recorded “Don’t Dream It’s Over?” Well, they may as well have been. Because now, Spring Training 2025 for the Braves is in the books, and they’re off to San Diego to kick off the season on Thursday afternoon.
As for this game, well, yawn. Bryan De La Cruz hit an absolutely massive moonshot that nearly cleared the berm in left field and probably bounced into the concourse or whatever concourse equivalent exists at Spring Training ballparks in Arizona. Beyond that, some regulars got on base, some didn’t, and they quickly gave way to the random fill-ins. The Braves didn’t plate any more runs on the afternoon.
The pitching was basically just a “please let us get through this final game without any injuries.” Jose Suarez made his first appearance in a Braves uniform and nibbled his way to a 29-pitch inning that featured a walk, a strikeout, and Dansby Swanson hitting a ground rule double to drive in a run after Michael Harris II barely missed making a running catch on it.
The rest of the pitching slate featured four innings of Zach Thompson (2/2 K/BB ratio), and then an inning each from Brian “Get a Brain” Moran, Jake “Full Head of” McSteen and, because it was my turn to do the recap, Shay Schanaman. Our S.S.-initialed one-time teammate of Spencer Schwellenbach at Nebraska gave up a two-run homer that sunk the Braves, but who’s keeping score? At least those three guys had a combined 6/0 K/BB ratio, which is tasty, if not filling. Thompson is quickly becoming the Connor Johnstone replacement foretold in the sacred texts, which makes everyone else’s life a lot easier because there’s no longer a need to decide who’s going to sop unneeded innings in Triple-A or maybe even Spring Training next year.
Anyway, the Braves end their perfunctory Spring Training at .500. I’d say “at least no one got hurt,” but Sean Murphy (and Nacho Alvarez Jr.) did get hurt, so I’m not going to. Onward to Opening Day.