Scoring late usually a tough way to win

When the Braves scored two runs in the ninth inning Saturday and stranded two to end their 6-5 loss to the Cardinals, it served as a microcosm for much of the season.

Score plenty of runs late, but more often than not, still lose.

Before Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Cardinals, the Braves had scored 197 runs in the seventh inning or later, thirdmost in the majors behind the Astros (224) and Yankees (207). But the Astros had the American League’s best record (71-45) and the Yankees (61-54) led the AL wildcard standings before Sunday. The Braves are 52-63, the fourth-worst record in the National League.

“These guys always do that,” manager Brian Snitker said after his Braves loaded the bases in the ninth inning Saturday and got a two-run single from Freddie Freeman against Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal. Nick Markakis struck out to end it. “One thing about this club, I don’t care where we are. We’ve got a great ability to separate every day and go out and do whatever we can to try to win that day.

“And these guys never don’t give you a hard 27 outs. They’re never out of a game and they keep coming at you.”

Of the Braves’ 52 wins, 27 came in games in which they came from behind, including three of their last four wins. They were 9-2 in games that were tied after eight innings.

But they were also just 4-55 when trailing after seven innings, an indication of why waiting until the late innings to score isn’t a winning strategy so much as it is simply a sign of not giving up. Which is good, of course, but not preferable to scoring plenty early, as they did with a quick 5-0 lead Sunday.

The Braves were fifth-worst in the majors in scoring from the first through sixth innings with 321 runs before Sunday. Meanwhile, the Astros led in run scored from the first through sixth innings (447), just as they led in scoring after the sixth.