With their bullpen stretched and desperately needing a win to stay alive in the standings, the Braves were looking to even the series at home against the Orioles.
Things started promisingly. Aaron Bummer worked around a hit-by-pitch to strike out the side in the first inning, and the Braves offense struck early. Matt Olson ripped a double, followed by Austin Riley launching a two-run homer to center — a rare power display for Riley lately. Drake Baldwin singled and Marcell Ozuna reached on catcher’s interference, but Ozzie Albies popped out to end the inning with a 2-0 lead.
Bummer cruised through the second with two more strikeouts, but things unraveled in the third. He gave up a solo shot to Tyler O’Neill and walked Cedric Mullins. Manager Brian Snitker stuck with him to face the top of the order again, but it backfired — a two-run homer flipped the Braves’ 2-0 advantage into a 3-2 deficit. Dylan Dodd came in and ended the inning with a pair of groundouts.
Atlanta quickly responded. Olson led off the bottom of the third with a solo blast to tie it 3-3. Baldwin added a two-out double, but Ozuna lined out to end the frame. Dodd returned for the fourth but gave up a double to Ryan O’Hearn and a home run to Colton Cowser, putting Baltimore back on top 5-3.
The Braves answered again. Nick Allen doubled, Ronald Acuña Jr. walked, and Olson delivered an RBI single after a tough at-bat. Riley then doubled to left to score Acuña, but Olson was thrown out trying to score from first — the game now tied 5-5.
Dodd tossed a clean fifth, finishing with 2.2 innings of relief. In the bottom half, the Braves had another opportunity. Baldwin was hit by a pitch, and Albies singled to put two on with two outs. But Michael Harris II struck out, ending the threat.
De Los Santos and Austin Cox combined for a scoreless sixth, setting the stage for another big offensive chance. Nick Allen led off with an infield single, and both Acuña and Olson walked, loading the bases with no outs against former Brave Scott Blewett. But, in what has become a frustrating 2025 trend, Atlanta managed just one run: Riley struck out, Profar grounded in a run, and Baldwin grounded out to end the inning with a slim 6-5 lead.
The missed opportunity loomed large — once again, the Braves failed to fully capitalize in a crucial moment, leaving fans holding their breath for the late innings.
Leave a Reply