The Atlanta Braves seemingly had a series win over the Boston Red Sox in the bag on Saturday night. The Braves were leading as much as 5-0 in Boston, and entered the eighth inning with a 6-4 lead. All the Braves needed was the bullpen to do their part and keep the score as is.
But in the bottom of the eighth inning, Braves manager Brian Snitker made a head-scratching decision. Instead of going to another one of his available bullpen arms, he decided to go with Rafael Montero, who has been anything but a sure thing this season. That's evidenced by his 3.97 ERA entering Saturday's game, which isn't great for a bullpen arm.
Sure enough, Montero blew the game for the Braves, as he surrendered two earned runs on two hits on four batters faced.
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Brian Snitker's Rafael Montero decision backfires, costs Braves win vs. Red Sox
At first, Montero seemingly got off to the right start, forcing Trevor Story to fly out for the first out of the inning. But then, Montero surrendered a double to Abraham Toro and a single to Carlos Narvaez in succession. After striking out Ceddanne Rafaela, Snitker pulled Montero from the game. But the damage was done.
Pierce Johnson entered the game and gave up a bases-clearing single to Jarren Duran to tie the game up.
In the ninth inning, the Braves were unable to knock in the go-ahead runner despite having two runners on base. In the bottom of the frame, Johnson surrendered an immediate walk-off home run to Red Sox star Rafael Devers to clinch the 7-6 loss.
Let's just say that some Braves fans weren't thrilled with the decision.
This is now the third time in four appearances in which Montero gave up at least one earned run . While he did pitch two scoreless innings in this past Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals, Montero was called upon again on one-game's rest by Snitker to hold a two-run lead. Of course, that didn't work.
As Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game said, if Snitker was going to use Johnson in a late relief apperance, why even bother bringing in Montero?
Snitker will look back at this game as one that got away from him. Now, the Braves are back to .500, and their series against the Red Sox will be on the line on Sunday afternoon.