Today's Three Things: Braves Lose Game to Royals and Ronald Acuña Jr. to Injury
The Atlanta Braves nightmare season keeps getting worse with a likely preventable injured list stint
The Atlanta Braves dropped game two of their series against Kansas City Royals, 9-6, in Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday night.
Here’s Today’s Three Things from the contest.
The Turning Point
The bottom of the 6th inning.
The Braves had just rallied for three runs in the top half of the inning, narrowing the Kansas City lead to just a single run at 4-3.
It wouldn’t stay that small for long.
With lefty Aaron Bummer coming back out after getting the final out of the 5th inning, a single, sacrifice bunt, and a walk prompted both teams to make a change - the Royals sent out pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk (career .270 average versus southpaws), so Atlanta went to Enyel De Los Santos.
It didn’t matter. Grichuk drew a walk from De Los Santos and then Kyle Isbel hit a bases-clearing double to push across three runs and put Kansas City back to a comfortable four-run lead. Just for good measure, after a 2nd out, De Los Santos allowed a Bobby Witt Jr. RBI single and a Vinnie Pasquantino ground-rule double for the fourth and fifth runs of the inning, putting this one away.
The Pasquantino double was also the final play of the game for Ronald Acuña Jr., was struggled to get over into the right-center gap for the flyball despite a hang time of almost six seconds. He was removed from the game with ‘right Achilles tightness’ and replaced by Eli White - more on this later. A lot more.
Since the All-Star Break, the Braves bullpen has collectively been one of the worst in baseball. Only one regular reliever has an ERA under 4.15 and that Pierce Johnson’s 1.80 in five innings. Dylan Lee has the 4.15, while there’s three relievers sitting over a 10.00 in Aaron Bummer (12.27), Enyel De Los Santos (13.50), and Rafael Montero (16.62).
Today’s Player of the Game
The Big Bear was reportedly big sad about being removed from everyday playing time as the team’s designated hitter (leading him to establish that he’d be willing to waive his 10-5 rights to block a trade if it means everyday playing time), made the most of his opportunities.
He homered for the second straight day, following up yesterday’s 1-3 day with a 2-4 night. He’s picked up five RBI in the last two days, walking twice and not striking out at all. It’s a welcome surge of power and that his hip injury isn’t bothering him too severely in the final moments before Atlanta’s expected to move him ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
Honorable mention goes to Michael Harris II, who continued his hot streak with another three-hit night, including a leadoff triple in the second inning (which the Braves failed to convert into a run, thanks to a groundout and two strikeouts).
What You’ll Be Talking About
Ronald’s injury.
Manager Brian Snitker told the media that Acuña would be going on the injured list for his Achilles tightness…and then Ronald met with the media.
Acuña admitted that he initially injured the Achilles on Monday night when he scored from first base, but was able to successfully lobby to get back into the lineup for Tuesday.
Here’s the video, pulled from FanDuel Sports Network, of his comments.
To quote him there: “I told them yesterday and everyone said ‘hey, take the day (off) if you want it, you can have the day off’ but I’ve just missed so much time already through injuries that I don’t to miss any more time.”
I’m sorry, he can take the day off if he wants it?
Why, in a lost season, are you giving your star player and former MVP the choice to play through an Achilles injury instead of dictating two days off and then re-evaluating him prior to the weekend series versus the Reds?
Every player wants to be in the lineup and virtually every single time you give them the choice, they’re going to say they can play. YOUR job, and I’m talking directly to the person that makes the linep (Brian Snitker) is to protect the player from themselves.
This should not have been a debate or a discussion. You’re feeling some tightness and discomfort in your Achilles? Enjoy the two days off - we’ll get you an MRI, just to be safe, and Eli White will enjoy the two starts before you maybe re-enter the lineup for the weekend.
Listen, I’ve never been a “fire the manager because the team is bad” guy, but this one’s almost inexcusable in my book.
Looking for more discussion about this game?
Here’s tonight’s Postcast, with me and Locked On Braves host Jake Mastroianni, as we went live to break down the loss. (Enjoy us finding out during the commercial break that Ronald was going on the injured list.)
What’s Next for the Braves?
The Braves are going to try and win the series on Wednesday afternoon - Joey Wentz (2-2, 5.76 ERA) gets the ball at 2:10 PM ET opposite Royals reliever Angel Zerpa (3-1, 4.15) in a bullpen game for Kansas City.