Braves Take a Bow for 2018
East Division Champs Fall to LA in Game 4, Drop NLDS 3 Games to 1
The Atlanta Braves saw the curtain come down on their surprising 2018 season Tuesday with a series-ending 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Like their other 2 wins in this series, the Dodgers used power (Manny Machado 3- run homer) and timely hitting ( David Friese 2-run pinch-hit single) to get the win, overcoming an early 2-1 deficit . Strong Dodger pitching was also a big factor, though Rich Hill struggled a bit in game 4 but effectively avoided any knockout punch by the Braves’ light-hitting line-up through his 5 inning stint.
Unlike so many similar situations this year, the Braves were unable to answer the challenge of a late-inning deficit in game 4..They had several opportunities but left men on base in 3 innings, including the 5th when the bases were left loaded.
The Dodgers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st on a Manny Machado double to left field, driving in Justin Turner who had walked. Mike Foltynewicz started this game for the Braves, savoring that rare 2nd chance from his brief failed outing in game 1. This time was a bit smoother. He gave up that run in tbe 1st, but shut the visitors down over the next 3 frames before being pulled for a pinch hitter. Kurt Suzuki made that move pay off with a 2-out, 2-run single that gave the Braves the lead and delighted the raucous SunTrust crowd. Brian Snitker again used his bullpen aggressively . In the 6th, Jonny Venters allowed a hit and 2 walks, before yielding to Brad Brach. He surrendered the pinch hit single to David Friese, handing tbe lead back to LA at 3-2.
Snitker turned to the rookie Chad Sobotka for the 7th inning. It did not go well. He gave up a hit and a walk and the Machado 3 run homer built the lead to 4, which felt insurmountable and took some energy from the crowd. But the Braves made one more push in 2018. With two runners on base in the 8th , Lucas Duda was sent up to pinch- hit. He scorched a high liner into the right field seats which just curved foul. He then flied out to centerfield.
In the home 9th, the man who won the first game of the Braves’ season with a walk-off homer back in the spring, Nick Markakis, was in the on-deck circle when Freddie Freeman struck out to end the game and the season..
The Braves did not hit well for the series. They scored only 8 runs total, with 6 of those coming in the game 3 win. Camargo did not get a hit in 4 games.Too, the Atlanta pitching staff persisted with their recent tendency toward wildness, issuing 27 walks in 4 games. With the Dodgers’ power, those walks hurt more. To add to the problems, the Braves had a tough time hitting, especially with runners on base. The series felt like a harsh introduction for the young Braves to the extra rigor inherent in post-season play.
Of course, no one expected Atlanta to make the playoffs, much less win the East. And now, a busy to-do list awaits the front office this winter. They need to add a solid starting pitcher. They likely need a new right fielder. They need to settle the catching position.
And, with apologies to Burgess Meredith, what they need is a manager! Or more accurately, they need to re-sign the one who just guided a fairly patchwork roster to the Eastern division title. Brian Snitker long ago proved he could develop young talent. This year he deftly managed a diverse group of talents and personalities to a division crown . His moving Ronald Acuna to the leadoff spot in the second half of the season was arguably the single biggest factor in the Braves’ run to the division championship. And notably, the team played hard for him.
Give Snitker 2 more years. He earned it.
Patrick Conarro