Even Brian Snitker was left baffled by the Braves’ unexpected meltdown against the Rockies on Sunday.
The 2024 season has been anything but smooth for the Atlanta Braves. On Sunday, they appeared to be cruising toward a comfortable road victory over the Colorado Rockies, leading 8-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. After allowing just two runs in that inning with two outs, the Braves seemed poised to close out the game. However, the Rockies erupted, stringing together six hits in rapid succession—including two doubles—to stage a stunning 9-8 comeback win.
As each hit landed, the energy in Coors Field surged, and the Braves appeared to crumble under the mounting pressure. Manager Brian Snitker himself was at a loss to explain what transpired as his team was overwhelmed by the Rockies’ late-game onslaught.
“It’s tough to swallow. It’s a tough one there. That’s even weird for here. It felt like we were an out away in the eighth and next thing you know, the roof caved in. It’s a hard one to explain,” Snitker told ESPN.
Raisel Iglesias, who had already pitched in Saturday’s 11-8 win, was ideally going to rest, but with Luke Jackson struggling in the eighth, the Braves were forced to bring in Joe Jimenez, one of their most dependable relievers this season with a 2.35 ERA. Unfortunately, Jimenez couldn’t stop the bleeding, and the Braves saw their lead evaporate.
This loss comes at a critical time for the Braves, who can’t afford to let it derail their season. They face a quick turnaround as they head to San Francisco for a crucial series against the Giants. With the New York Mets hot on their heels in the NL Wild Card standings, Atlanta needs to regroup quickly and avoid any further setbacks.
Braves Waste Strong Offensive Performance
The 2024 season has been a struggle for the Braves’ offense, a stark contrast to their league-leading run production in 2023, when they scored 947 runs. Despite scoring 19 runs in their last two games, the Braves rank just 12th in the NL with 503 runs this season. Squandering a game where they put up eight runs adds to the frustration for Snitker and his team.
Adding to their woes, the Braves lost the series to the Rockies, who have one of the worst records in MLB this season. Dropping two out of three games to Colorado only amplifies the disappointment.
Now sitting at 61-56, the Braves are in a precarious position, holding just a half-game lead over the Mets in the wild card race. Their upcoming series against the Giants, who are 7-3 in their last 10 games and also in the hunt for a playoff spot, will be crucial. Expect a fierce battle as both teams vie for postseason positioning.
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