The struggling Atlanta Braves went north of the border to take on the AL East leading Toronto Blue in a matchup that did not look too promising.
Marcell Ozuna was out due to hip inflammation and the Braves trotted out a lineup that looked like it was one half of a split squad game. Grant Holmes, who has greatly struggled with walks, was on the mound facing Easton Lucas who was yet to give up a single run this season.
The first inning started off with a bang. Ozzie Albies was sat down quickly, but Matt Olson continued to be a on on base stud with another walk. Sean Murphy, who has been the Braves’ hottest hitter, was moved to cleanup and it payed off. He hit a no doubter over left center to make the score 2-0.
In the bottom of the first, Grant Holmes took the ball. He has had a 19.5 percent walk rate thus far this season. Only 5.0 percent of qualified pitchers have had a worse walk rate. That was not the case tonight. Holmes was able to force two groundouts and a fly out for a three-up-three-down innings.
We saw a rarity in the top of the second when Michael Harris walked, but unfortunately the insurance runs were prevented when Fairchild grounded into a double play and Allen popped out.
Holmes picked up right where he left off with seeing the minimum hitters again. The Braves came in swinging in the top of the third. Eli White hit his first double of the season and after an Albies pop up, Riley hit his own HR over left center to make the score 4-0. Matt Olson drew his second walk of the game, but first inning hero Sean Murphy hit into a double play.
Holmes continued his streak of minimum batters faced in the third, and Easton Lucas followed suit against the Braves in the top of the fourth. Holmes continued to look dominate sitting down his twelfth straight hitter in the bottom of the fourth.
The fifth is where things started to get fun. Nick Allen continued his hot streak with a single and then promptly stole second base. Eli White walked to put two runners on. Ozzie Albies then joined in on the fun with double that just made it past a diving Roden at the left field line to make the score 5-0.
With runners on second and third Austin Riley came up to hit. Riley then hit his second jack of the night to make the score 8-0, which gave him his fifth RBI of the night. He must have heard that people were complaining about the Braves’ average with RISP.
Olson, Murphy, and De La Cruz were all sat down in a row, but the damage was done.
Holmes came back out to pitch the fifth. He finally had his first baserunner with a walk, but still faced the minimum number of hitters by forcing a double play via groundout, and then ended the inning with another.
Lucas Easton was replaced in the sixth after giving up eight earned runs. He went from a 0.00 ERA to a 4.70 in one game. If he were a qualified pitcher he would have went from first to sixty-eighth in MLB.
The Braves were silent in the sixth, but the Jays were not. Holmes finally showed a sign of weakness when Myles Straw hit a solo shot to make the score 8-1. Holmes did not appear to be shaken up. He followed the HR with two strikeouts and a fly out.
The Braves’ offense must have been tired from that crazy fifth inning because they did not have a runner for the second straight inning. Grant Holmes stayed in the game in the seventh. He yet again saw the minimum number of hitters to end the inning.
The Braves finally had another base runner in the eighth, but it was from a scary moment when Sean Murphy was hit by a pitch. The Braves did not have any more offense outside of that.
In a somewhat shocking move, Brian Snitker left Grant Holmes in the game for the eighth. It makes sense to give the bullpen a break, and Holmes was absolutely dominating. However, Holmes was obviously tired. He was able to get the first out via lineup, but then gave up two earned runs in the inning. He was replaced after 7.2 innings of work with Aaron Bummer.
Through seven innings, Holmes only saw one hitter above the minimum. His overall line was two hits, three earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. Unfortunately for Holmes, the two earned runs in the eighth were off of a double given up by his replacement, Aaron Bummer. Bummer did end the inning on a strikeout to Bo Bichette.
The Braves did not get another runner in their half of the ninth inning, but things were looking good with a five run lead. However, surely some fans ended up a bit nervous in the bottom of the ninth. Bummer stayed in the game. He was able to get out newly extended Guerrero Jr., but then gave up a double to Anthony Santander. Santander was then moved over to third on a groundout. Ernie Clement then singled with two strikes to make the score 8-4. Bummer was finally able to end the game on a strikeout to Roden.
It was clear that Brian Snitker took the route to give the bullpen some rest with the lead. The game was much more in favor of the Braves than the ending score suggested. This was a much needed spark for a Braves’ offense that has spent most of the season in the bottom five in MLB in runs scored.
Hopefully Ozuna will be okay and heal up soon. He has been sent back to Atlanta and will not finish this series. Hopefully tonight has shown that this offense can keep rolling as the Braves face the Blue Jays again tomorrow at the same time, and same place.
First pitch is tomorrow at 7:07 EDT.