Brian Snitker leaving Luke Jackson in to face Cody Bellinger is a fireable offense

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker made a critical error in leaving Luke Jackson in the game too long against the Dodgers.

With two runners on, Snitker should’ve had all the evidence he needed to removed Jackson from the game, especially after his postseason struggles.

Snitker is sometimes stubborn to a fault with his bullpen, as Braves fans know all too well with closer Will Smith. With two runners on and the tying run at the plate in the suddenly-hot Cody Bellinger, Snitker either didn’t have a pitcher warming up in the bullpen, or refused to pull Jackson just yet. Either decision is a borderline fireable offense.

To make matters worse, Jackson faced the following batter after Bellinger’s three-run shot, and allowed the possible winning run on.

Braves: What was Brian Snitker thinking?

Oh, things got much worse for Snitker and the Braves. Following Bellinger’s game-tying shot, Snitker pulled Jackson from the contest. Jackson threw one pitch to Chris Taylor, who laced a single to left field. He was then, mercifully, taken out of the game in favor of Jesse Chavez.

After getting Chavez to ground out and with Taylor reaching third base, Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts hit a double to right-center field to bring him home, giving Los Angeles a 6-5 lead.

Chavez eventually got out of the inning by forcing catcher Will Smith to fly out to shortstop Dansby Swanson, despite getting the bases loaded. Sure, Atlanta did prevent Los Angeles from putting more runs on the board, but they blew a 5-2 lead!

In the top of the ninth, Atlanta’s bats went silent, as Austin Riley, Joc Pederson and Adam Duvall were all struck out by reliever Kenley Jansen. Now, the Dodgers have cut their NLCS deficit to 2-1.

This loss will sting for the Braves, as they had the chance to put the defending World Series champions on the brink of elimination. Instead, the Dodgers have life in the NLCS.