Ozzie Albies came through when the Braves needed it most, lining a two-out single in the eighth inning to push Atlanta past the Dodgers 4-3 on Tuesday night at Truist Park.
The go-ahead hit capped a big frame for the Braves, who had Matt Olson leading off the inning with a double before he came around to score on Albies’ shot to center. It was the kind of timely swing Atlanta has been chasing during a month that hasn’t gone especially well, even with a slice of an eight-game winning streak mixed in.
Bryce Elder did his part to keep the Braves in range. He worked six innings and gave up eight hits, all of them singles, while allowing three runs. Then Raisel Iglesias handled the ninth, surviving Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff triple without giving up any damage.
Atlanta also gave its offense an early jolt. The Braves scored three runs in the first inning against Tyler Glasnow, who was making his first start since his back became an issue on May 5. Drake Baldwin, Olson, Mauricio Dubón and Michael Harris II all singled before Glasnow recorded his second out.
There was also a break for Glasnow in that first inning. Home-plate umpire Edwin Jimenez ruled that Mike Yastrzemski fouled off a 3-1 pitch, though replays showed the ball clearly missed the bat. The call stood, and Harris was kept from scoring an additional run.
The win mattered in the standings, too. Atlanta remained at least 3 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Phillies in the National League East. The Braves also moved within three games of the Dodgers in the race for the NL’s second-best record, a spot that would help them avoid the Wild Card round.
The schedule now turns in Atlanta’s favor for a stretch. After finishing this three-game set with Los Angeles, the Braves will face six straight games against the Rockies, Giants and Nationals, all teams out of playoff contention. After that, though, comes a far tougher 13-game run: seven against the Phillies, three against the Rays and three against the Cubs, all clubs in strong position to make the playoffs.
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Injuries and individual slumps are part of the equation, and they always will be over a long season, but the larger concern is harder to dismiss. The key hitters who were expected to drive the turnaround have not shown much in the way of meaningful offensive growth, which has pushed attention back to the structure of the approach itself. For a team still built to contend, the question is no longer just who is healthy or hot at the moment, but whether the current offensive plan is actually getting the most out of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Danny Young Gamble Leaves His Future In Doubt
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Young returned this year after recovering from Tommy John surgery and made 16 appearances for the Braves, but his control issues put him on shaky ground. The move keeps him in the system and gives him a chance to work his way back, yet it also leaves his longer-term future unsettled as he tries to reestablish himself in the minors. [Read more 🡒]