Quick Stats:

• Didier Fuentes (ATL): 1.0 IP, 5 Hits, 8 Runs, 2 Walks, 2 Strikeouts (Loss)
• Jeffrey Springs (ATH): 6.0 IP, 6 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Walk, 2 Strikeouts (Win)
• Lawrence Butler (ATH): 2-4, 2 Home Runs
• Nick Kurtz (ATH): 2-3, Grand Slam
• Eli White (ATL): 1-3, Home Run

ATL: 6 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Walk, 4 Strikeouts

ATH: 10 Hits, 10 runs, 3 Walks, 9 Strikeouts

The Game Story:

1^st Inning: Jurickson Profar leads the game off by striking out swinging. Matt Olson grounds out to first for the second out. Austin Riley flies out to right to end the top half of the inning. Lawrence Butler hits an inside-the-park home run on the first pitch to put the Athletics up 1-0. The pitch hits Jacob Wilson. Max Schuemann replaces Jacob Wilson. Brent Rooker hits a home run to left, and the Athletics lead 3-0. Nick Kurtz draws a walk. Shea Langeliers pops out to Olson. Tyler Soderstrom strikes out swinging for the second out. Max Muncy hits a home run to left to stretch the Athletics’ lead to 5-0. Zack Gelof strikes out swinging to end the inning.

2^nd Inning: Sean Murphy strikes out swinging. Marcell Ozuna hits a double to left-center. Ozzie Albies grounds out to second for the second out. Stuart Fairchild draws a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Eli White flies out to center to end the top half of the inning. Denzel Clarke singles to right. Lawrence Butler draws a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs—Max Schuemann singles to left to load the bases. Jesse Chavez comes in for Fuentes. Brent Rooker strikes out swinging. Nick Kurtz hits a grand slam to right field, and the lead is now 9-0. Shea Langeliers grounds out to second for the second out. Tyler Soderstrom singles to right. Max Muncy grounds out to the pitcher to end the inning.

3^rd Inning: Nick Allen flies out to left. Jurickson Profar flies out to left for the second out. Matt Olson singles to left. Austin Riley flies out to right to end the top half of the inning. Zack Gelof strikes out looking. Denzel Clarke strikes out looking for the second out. Lawrence Butler hits his second home run of the game to centerfield to make the lead 10-0. Max Schuemann flies out to center to end the inning.

4^th Inning: Sean Murphy pops out to the catcher. Marcell Ozuna grounds out to short for the second out. Ozzie Albies hits a double to center. Stuart Fairchild flies out to right to end the top half of the inning. Brent Rooker grounds out to third. Nick Kurtz doubles to right. Shea Langeliers pops out to second base for the second out. Tyler Soderstrom draws a walk. Max Muncy strikes out looking to end the inning.

5^th Inning: Eli White hits a home run to left, and the score is now 10-1 Athletics. Nick Allen singles to center. Jurickson Profar pops out to first. Matt Olson hits into a double play to end the top half of the inning. The Braves bring in Enyel De Los Santos to relieve Chavez. Zack Gelof strikes out swinging—Denzel Clarke grounds to short for the second out. Lawrence Butler pops out to third to end the inning.

6^th Inning: Austin Riley singles to left. Sean Murphy flies out to center. Marcell Ozuna flies out to center for the second out. Ozzie Albies flies out to center to end the top half of the inning. Max Schuemann flies out to center. Brent Rooker grounds out to short for the second out. Austin Cox comes in to relieve De Los Santos. Nick Kurtz grounds out to second to end the inning.

7^th Inning: Athletics bring in Justin Sterner in relief of Jeffrey Springs. Stuart Fairchild strikes out looking. Eli White pops out to shallow center for the second out. Nick Allen reaches first on an error. Jurickson Profar pops out to the catcher to end the top half of the inning. Shea Langeliers flies out to right. Athletics pinch hit Colby Thomas, who strikes out swinging for the second out. Max Muncy singles to left. Zack Gelof flies out to center to end the inning.

8^th Inning: Matt Olson strikes out swinging. Austin Riley lines out to right for the second out. Sean Murphy grounds out to second to end the top half of the inning. The Braves bring in Luke Williams to relieve Cox. Denzel Clarke strikes out swinging. Lawrence Butler flies out to left for the second out. Max Schuemann flies out to center to end the inning.

9^th Inning: Elvis Alvarado comes in for the Athletics to relieve Sterner. Marcell Ozuna flies out to center. Ozzie Albies grounds out to second base for the second out. Stuart Fairchild grounds out to second to end the game.

Final Score: Atlanta Braves-1, Athletics-10

Braves Player of the Game

With offense at a minimum, the only player to get a run across the board gets the nod in Eli White.

Conclusion

My Thoughts: In a game that the Braves needed to win, this game was over from the first inning after Lawrence Butler hit an inside-the-park home run on the first pitch he saw from Fuentes. It’s no secret that Didier Fuentes would not be pitching in the majors right now if not for the injuries to the rotation.

MLB’s youngest player is taking his lumps on the mound, and after today’s game, his ERA stands at 13.85, and he lasted only an inning. The offense went missing again and followed their usual course of home run or nothing, with Eli White putting the Braves on the board with his solo shot.

This offense needs to start moving runners and scoring runs with some small ball, as home runs are not going to be there every night. Ronald Acuña Jr. was scratched before the game due to lower back tightness.

Hopefully, this is nothing serious, as he is scheduled to start in the All-Star game next week and participate in the home run derby on Monday night. After this game, the Braves now sit 13.0 games back in the NL East. Tomorrow night, the Braves will need Elder to be better than he has been of late, or it could be a repeat of tonight if the offense doesn’t show up.

Next Up:

Game two of the series will be tomorrow night with the Braves sending Bryce Elder to the bump to face off with the Athletics’ Mitch Spence. First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 PM EST.