Today's Three Things: Bryce Elder Throws a Gem, But Costly Error Dooms Atlanta
On a night where the Braves offense did not have it, Elder's two-run error proved costly
The Atlanta Braves dropped game three of their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2-1, in Phoenix’s Chase Field on Saturday night.
Here is Today’s Three Things from the contest.
The Turning Point
Believe it or not, the bottom of the 2nd inning.
Holding a slim 1-0 lead, Bryce Elder had runners on first and second after two ground ball singles got through his defense. Infielder Jose Fernandez, in the game at first base for a slumping Carlos Santana, led down a really well-executed bunt that died about a third of the way up the third base line.
Elder tried to field it anyway, not taking the time to plant his feet before throwing to first and sailing the throw up the right field foul territory.
(In retrospect, Elder would have been better off eating the ball and just dealing with a bases-loaded situation. He got a strikeout and a groundout of the next two batters, representing the last two spots in the order, although with bases loaded, they likely approach those at-bats differently.)
Because Ronald Acuña Jr. hadn’t rotated down to back up the play, it allowed catcher Gabriel Moreno to score from second and veteran Nolan Arenado to score from first.
Look at where Ronald begins the play and how he doesn’t really begin coming down towards the infield until after the ball sails wide of Olson.
The Diamondbacks wouldn’t score again in this one, but neither would the Braves.
Today’s Player of the Game
Despite the defensive error, I’m giving the POTG to Bryce Elder.
Pitching seven strong innings, Elder allowed just four hits and the two unearned runs (that should really be charged to him, as it was his error they scored on.) Elder struck out eight and walked just one batter, a five-pitch AB versus Corbin Carroll in the third inning where he just momentarily struggled to land anything in the zone.
But it’s the way Elder got through these seven innings that is worth rewarding.
Elder allowed fifteen balls to be put into play. Only five of them were hard-hit balls and just three of them were in the air. Of the three hard-hit balls that did fall for hits, all three were singles and the righty didn’t allow a single extra-base hit on the day.
He did well in just about every respect, finishing with 13 whiffs (seven on the slider) and a 31% CSW but also allowing just an average exit velocity of 84.1 mph on his batted balls. He got whiffs on all five pitches, although he continued to only throw his cutter to lefty hitters. Other than the throwing error, there wasn’t much to be disappointed about from Elder in this one.
What You’ll Be Talking About
The third baseman entered this game having been the final out of the inning six different times this season. He added four more tonight.
But more than that, just as with Elder, it’s the way in which Riley’s doing it. In the first inning with a runner on, he had a seven-pitch at-bat but watched a middle-middle fastball for strike three. In the third, with a runner in scoring position, he chased a slurve that bounced in the opposite batter’s box for strike three. In the fifth, with runners on the corners, he at least put it into play, grounding out to shortstop. He added to that with a foul pop fly out behind the plate in the 8th, meaning none of his batted balls left the infield in this one.
I’m not saying that the Braves should bench him or anything, but I’m starting to wonder how much longer the self-professed “impatient” Walt Weiss will continue to let him bat 4th or 5th before moving him down a bit in the lineup.
Looking for more discussion about this game?
Here’s tonight’s Postcast, where I went live over on Locked On Sports Atlanta to break down the loss.
What’s Next for the Braves?
The Braves are sending veteran lefty Martín Pérez (0-0, 0.00) to the mound for tomorrow afternoon’s finale, opposite righty Brandon Pfaadt (0-0, 7.50). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM ET.