ATL All Day
Fansided

Atlanta Braves Dismantled by Nats 8-2, Lose 11th Straight

By Jonathan Savitske

facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Braves held the Washington Nationals in check for the first 2 innings, but the Nats offense and shoddy defense was too much for Shelby Miller to overcome as the Braves fell 8-2 on Saturday.

Saturday’s loss is the 11th consecutive defeat for the Atlanta Braves, and their 18th out of their last 19 games. During any other stretch, the Shelby Miller’s 20th consecutive winless start would overshadow a loss; but tonight, this historically bad Atlanta Braves team’s 11th consecutive loss is the headline.

-= Related: Ozhaino Albies: Could He Make Andrelton Simmons Expendable? =-

Shelby Miller held the Nationals scoreless for the first 2 innings, but in the bottom of the 3rd, Cameron Maybin lost a fly ball in the lights off the bat of  Ian Desmond, putting the Nationals shortstop at second with no one out. Miller would record two outs before a wild pitch would score Desmond from 3rd-base, putting the Nats on top 1-0.

Live Feed

MLB Rumors: Braves striking out, Ohtani spurned Giants, Soto-Yankees extension
MLB Rumors: Braves striking out, Ohtani spurned Giants, Soto-Yankees extension /

FanSided

  • The cause and effect of the Braves alluring additions of Kelenic and Fletcher House That Hank Built
  • The 6 best Atlanta Braves who were never recognized as All-StarsHouse That Hank Built
  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto update: Yankees on, Dodgers question, Braves wild cardCall to the Pen
  • World Series Odds: Which Teams Have Value after Shohei Ohtani Signing?Betsided
  • Braves finalize coaching moves after Wash-led exodusFanSided

    • The inning would continue as Jayson Werth hit a ground-rule double to center, and would score on an Anthony Rendon RBI single the next at-bat. Then notorious Braves killer Bryce Harper launched a 2-run homer to center, scoring Rendon and giving the Nationals a 4-0 lead.

    The onslaught continued in the bottom of the 4th inning as another wild pitch would put Yunel Escobar and Ian Desmond in scoring position. Wilson Ramos grounded into a fielders choice and an error by the Braves infield on a throw to home would allow both Escobar and Desmond to score to give the Nats a commanding 6-0 lead.

    After a leadoff double by the streaking Bryce Harper in the bottom of the 5th, Ryan Zimmerman would single home the Nat’s center-fielder to make the score 7-0. The Nats would then again score in the bottom of the 7th, as an RBI groundout by Ryan Zimmerman off of Ross Detwiler would score Anthony Rendon after his leadoff single to give the Nats an 8-0 lead.

    Shelby Miller had arguably his worst start of the season on Saturday, and noticeably looked physically, mentally and emotionally fatigued. Miller only pitched 4.1 innings while allowing 7 earned runs on 7 hits. His winless streak has now hit 20 games in a row. One has to think that the lack of run support and lack of winning with the Braves is taking its toll on Miller, making his frustrations mount with every passing day.

    More from Atlanta Braves

    The Atlanta Braves would scrape together a couple of runs in the top of the 8th inning. Nick Markakis would get on base off an error by Nats’ second baseman Trea Turner and would move to third on a Freddie Freeman single. Nick Swisher then hit a double to deep left-field to score Markakis, putting the Atlanta Braves on the board 8-1. Michael Bourn then sacrificed Freeman home to give the Braves another run, 8-2.

    The Atlanta Braves’ defense was especially shoddy tonight, as Shelby Miller had two wild pitches. Cameron Maybin lost a fly ball in the lights, which may have prevented a 4-run inning by the Nats in the 3rd. Also, Hector Olivera blatantly missed a fly ball in foul territory that should have been caught. These are plays that simply must be made to give your team a chance to win; but right now, the Braves players seem disengaged and ready for the season to end. Regardless of their mental states, these defensive lapses are simply unacceptable.

    Blake Treinen would pitch a scoreless 9th inning to give the Nationals the victory. The Atlanta Braves will attempt to salvage a win in this 4 game set tomorrow and to end their 11 game losing streak as Manny Banuelos toes the rubber against Joe Ross and the Nationals. 

    Next: Atlanta Braves: Trade for Chris Sale this Offseason?

    More from ATL All Day

    Home/Atlanta Braves