May 29, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) reacts after reaching second base during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
With the Atlanta Braves offense struggling to plate runs in Boston, Mike Minor needed to have a great outing. He did that and then some. Mike was masterful through 7 innings of work, allowing just one run on 7 hits. Minor gave up no walks and really danced out of trouble all night. The Braves took the early lead on a Jason Heyward jack to right field. It wasn’t a cheapy either. Gattis followed that up next inning with a single that plated Freddie Freeman. The 2-0 Braves lead in the 4th inning really seemed to take the pressure off Minor, and that allowed him to pitch to contact.
Also, the top top half the order really seemed to put things together, with the 1-5 hitters all getting at least one knock. Hitting is contagious, and the Braves just needed to string a few together. They did it again in the 8th when BJ hit a single, and then Freeman knocked one off the Monster as BJ stole second. That meant BJ could cruise home to make the Braves lead 3-1.
The bullpen came into the game in the 8th, and we finally got to see David Carpenter for the first time since the Colorado series. The downside was the first hitter he faced dumped a bloop single into left, getting by Justin Upton on the bounce. That turned into a leadoff double, and just like that Boston was back in business. The next Boston hitter hit a liner to center after falling behind 0-2, scoring the runner from second. That made it 3-2 with no outs. Then on high hopper up the middle, Tommy La Stella booted the ball instead of turning a double play. After that Boston hit a shot to center, and it went off BJ’s glove on the bounce, letting the runner from second tie the game at 3-3. BJ easily could have held him at 3rd had he not missed the ball, but the defense completely fell apart on the Braves late.
Honestly, if you were still watching the game after that display, I feel your pain. I wanted desperately to huck a shoe at the TV and turn it off in a rage, but I was recapping the game. So, I had to stand there and take it like a man. With runners at the corners, Carpenter battled to get a strikeout. Then, Avilan came in for relief and got another strikeout. What could have easily turned into a sacrifice run for a lead was now down to the final out of the inning. However, the next hitter was David Ortiz coming off the bench to PH hit. The Braves smartly walked him.
Then the impossible happened. Fredi Gonzalez actually brought in Kimbrel in the 8th inning with the bases loaded. It’s something he hardly ever does, even when fans are clamoring for it, but I think Fredi realized this game hung in the balance. It was about salvaging a game against a Boston team that had beaten them with a bag of oranges for three straight games. Craig induced a pop fly out to left to kill the threat and end the inning. The Braves would head to the top of the 9th tied at 3-3.
In the 9th, the Braves got a leadoff single by Doumit, but the Braves couldn’t bring him around to score. In the Boston half of the 9th, Kimbrel came back in to pitch. He walked the first and second hitters immediately. Then with two strikes he gave up a sharp shot to third, Chris Johnson tried to get the out at second, but La Stella dropped the ball, and the runner came around from third to score. The Braves lost in horrific fashion 4-3.
There’s no silver linings here. The Braves defense imploded. It played well for 7 innings and then suddenly turned into the Bad News Bears on Meth. Then Kimbrel started walking people which just made the whole situation worse. Atlanta has blown 2 leads in this series that they had in the bag. Finally, the Braves will leave Boston and good riddance. Maybe a different team will show up with a better defensive gameplan in Miami. If not, Miami could walk away from that series with first place in the NL East.