The Atlanta Braves may have avoided the sweep against the Miami Marlins on Thursday, but a flaw was exposed.
This is supposed to be the year where the Atlanta Braves break their curse and hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy at the conclusion of the World Series. While there is plenty of games left to go, the Braves have not gotten off to the best start. In fact, they entered Thursday on a four-game losing streak and on the verge of getting swept by the rival Miami Marlins.
Luckily for the Braves, they dodged a bullet with a walk-off RBI single by shortstop Dansby Swanson on Thursday afternoon. While that is all well and good, we can’t gloss over the fact that the Braves bullpen blew a save in the top of the ninth inning.
Braves: Bullpen blows save against Marlins on Thursday
Entering the ninth, the Braves held a 5-4 lead over the Marlins. Manager Brian Snitker called upon reliever A.J. Minter to close out the game and secure the win. Things did not go as Snitker had planned.
Minter walked Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas on six pitches to start off his day before allowing an RBI double to pinch hitter Adam Duvall in the very next at-bat to tie the game. Three batters later, Duvall ran home on an RBI single by outfielder Garrett Cooper to give the Marlins a late 6-5 lead.
The Braves lucked out in the bottom of the frame, as outfielders Ender Inciarte and Ronald Acuña all reached base on singles before the bases were loaded on a walk to first baseman Freddie Freeman. Inciarte scored on a walk by pitcher Dylan Florio to second baseman Ozzie Albies. Swanson ended things on the first pitch he saw from Florio to score Acuña to win the game.
It is quite evident that the Braves’ bullpen is not performing to the team’s expectations. The Braves went from needing three outs to win the game to having to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win. Maybe now is the time for the team to give a call to Shane Greene, who is still a free agent due to his asking price, according to reports.
It is still early in the season, so there is always the chance that the bullpen can turn things around. But if this trend continues by the end of May, they need to find a solution.