Baseball can definitely be a counterattack. You can win or lose a game for so many different reasons, with the narratives of games evolving into so many different forms. It’s really nice when these different games occur on the same day during a double header, and that was the case Wednesday afternoon between the Braves and Nationals.
It was a surprise that Stephen Strasburg came out and closed out the Braves. The surprise came when Huascar Ynoa matched Strasburg almost field by field in every half innings thereafter.
When Ozzie beat Albies for the first time in the first place, it looked as if the Braves might be able to achieve a success against Strasburg. To end the tension, however, would not be the case. Both Strasburg and Ynoa managed to get through the first two overs without much activity, but in the third innings both teams created chances.
With twice Ronald Acuna Jr. reached the second base for his second steal of the season. Albies walks in, but Freedie Freeman flies out to end the innings. Down in the third time, Strasburg doubled himself and Victor Robles walked, bringing the Bane of the Braves, Trea Turner, to the board. Just as the first game ended, there were no heroic deeds in the store this time either, as Turner grounded in a doubles match to end the innings.
From the top of the fourth innings to the top of the sixth innings, 15 batsmen combined between both teams walked into the batting surface, and neither of them reached the base. On the afternoon, Ynoa was brilliant and delivered the exact performance the Braves needed. Over five innings, he allows two hits, one step and delivers five hits. Of its 68 stands, 44 were strikes, including several first strikes. It seems like the Braves may have found their solution to keep the fifth appetizer until Mike Soroka returns.
After the top of the Braves order looked helpless above the sixth innings, Luke Jackson entered the game and did what he does best. The ‘Disciple of Drama’ enabled Victor Robles to walk, steal second and then fly out to third in third. Juan Soto then walked deliberately and also made it second. However, Jackson was able to end the threat on a weak footing for himself from the bat of Starlin Castro.
When the game entered the top of the 7th innings, the Braves were probably glad that Strasburg’s day was over after allowing one shot, two runs and eight shots. Tanner Rainey entered the game and scored two quick outs. However, Dansby Swanson connects with a single track and this allows the latest phrase of three words that strike fear in the pitcher’s hearts to come true again:
PINCH-HIT PANDA TIME!
For the second time in the first six games of the season, in a stunning dose of Deja Vu, Pablo Sandoval delivered a double, two-run pinch home run in the first seventh innings, just like in the first game of the year against Philadelphia. This time it was to give the Braves the lead. After leading the Braves 2-0, Sean Newcomb gets the call to clinch the victory for the Braves. He responded by hitting the side for the win.
What a wonderful Wednesday!
While the reason it was great may be less than ideal, it is perhaps the happiest a baseball team has ever been to start a 2-4 season. The stars shone in the first game, but Ynoa, Sandoval and Newcomb all showed how great this team is in the aspect that anyone can act and deliver at any given time. Along with the two wins, on a day when their ass conceded five runs in two innings, the Braves bullpen would allow only one run over the last twelve innings of the day.
Since this team has always shown the ability, they jumped back when they had to. Although Strasburg closed the offense in general, this Braves offense still had the six farthest hit balls of the day. If some of the hard-hitting balls start to fall or fly over the fence more frequently, these yard staff have shown that it can offer a lot of support to make the Braves the best in the majors. Everyone cheered and delivered when it was most needed, and that’s hopefully the boost this team needs to start making noise early in the season.