Braves Struggle Once Again With Runners in Scoring Position

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Atlanta Braves fell to the San Diego Padres 4-3 in a competitive matchup on Friday night, continuing their struggles with clutch hitting in the early season.

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a home run off the first pitch he saw, setting the tone for the Padres with a quick 1-0 lead. Martin Maldonado, despite being one of the less successful hitters in the league, doubled the lead in the second inning with a single up the middle, marking a rare achievement as he notched two hits off Braves pitcher Reynaldo López in his first two at-bats.

The Braves responded in the third inning with a series of crucial two-out hits. Jurickson Profar began the rally with a single, followed by walks from Austin Riley and Matt Olson, and capped by Marcell Ozuna’s single that tied the game at 2-2. However, the lead proved fleeting as Xander Bogaerts regained the advantage for San Diego with a two-out double.

Jarred Kelenic later tied the game again at 3-3 with a rope down the right-field line in the fifth. Throughout the game, López faced challenges, managing only three swing-and-misses and giving up nine hits over five innings.

The game shifted in the eighth inning when pitcher Dylan Lee allowed a hanging breaking ball that Jake Cronenworth hit for a decisive home run. The Braves’ difficulty with runners in scoring position continued, as they have now gone 1-for-16 in such opportunities this season. Despite getting on base consistently, the team has failed to capitalize and score significantly.

The four-game series continues Saturday evening at 7:15 p.m. with Spencer Schwellenbach making his debut against Padres righty Randy Vasquez, who struggled last season with a 4.87 ERA.

This game’s loss serves as a stark reminder of the Braves’ ongoing issues early in the season. In their previous game this week, starter Chris Sale struggled but managed to keep the Padres to three runs, leaving the game with a narrow lead. However, the struggling bullpen ultimately could not maintain the advantage, resulting in a 7-4 loss to the Padres.

Braves manager Brian Snitker acknowledged the team’s reliance on a sketchy bullpen, emphasizing the need for more reliable options in tense game situations. The team’s lack of a deep bullpen has already begun to manifest, making fans concerned about their performance in high-pressure situations moving forward.

As injuries to key players linger and performance falters, the Braves’ front office will have to address these issues promptly to salvage the season. With hope resting on the returns of stars such as Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider, adjustments will need to be made to turn this extremely early season around.