Bryce Elder Dominates with 8 Ks in Six Strong Innings, But Braves’ Bats Go Silent Again
PITTSBURGH — Bryce Elder did everything he could to give the Atlanta Braves a shot at a win Friday night — except swing a bat.
The right-hander carved up the Pittsburgh Pirates for six innings, racking up eight strikeouts without issuing a single walk. It was a sharp, confident outing from a pitcher who’s quietly bounced back from a rough start to the season. Elder’s command was crisp, his slider had bite, and his poise never wavered, even after surrendering two solo home runs to the bottom of Pittsburgh’s lineup.
But once again, the Braves’ offense couldn’t match his energy.
Despite Elder’s brilliance on the mound, Atlanta’s bats fell flat in a frustrating 3-2 loss at PNC Park — a missed opportunity that prevented the team from finally reaching the .500 mark. The Braves managed just two hits through six innings against lefty Brady Falter, who entered the night with an ERA north of 5.00.
“It’s tough,” said first baseman Matt Olson. “Bryce was excellent. He gave us every chance to win. The bullpen kept it close. But we couldn’t get anything going at the plate until the very end.”
Elder’s final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K. The two home runs he allowed — both to the Pirates’ No. 8 and 9 hitters — were his only major mistakes, and even then, they came with no one on base.
“Bryce was in command all night,” said manager Brian Snitker. “You hate to see a guy pitch that well and not come away with something to show for it.”
It’s the third time in four starts that Elder has gone at least six innings while allowing three earned runs or fewer — a sign that he’s settling in after a shaky 7.20 ERA over his first three starts of the year. Over his last four outings, his ERA now sits at a much more respectable 3.52.
Meanwhile, Atlanta’s defense continued to shine behind him. The infield hasn’t committed an error since April 21 and continues to rank among the league leaders in advanced defensive metrics. But no matter how flawless the gloves are, runs still have to come from somewhere.
The Braves finally scratched across a pair in the ninth inning — thanks to a leadoff triple from Eli White and clutch hits from Michael Harris II and rookie Drake Baldwin — but a late rally fell just short. Ozzie Albies lined out to end it with the tying run on base.
“We’re close,” said Snitker. “I believe in this group. When the bats heat up, and they will, nights like this won’t go to waste.”
For now, though, the Braves remain stuck just shy of .500, still searching for the offensive spark to match the excellence they’re getting on the mound — particularly from a resurgent Bryce Elder.
Leave a Reply