The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Highs, lows of the game,
Prized deadline pickup hits 3-run homer, L.A.’s 8th long ball of series.
An uncharacteristic sequence in the sixth inning summarized the Braves’ season.
Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig popped a ball into right field. Braves defenders Nick Markakis and Ozzie Albies pursued, only to see the ball drop between them.
A batter later, David Freese pushed a hit beyond the reach of shortstop Charlie Culberson, scoring two runs, leading to questions about whether Dansby Swanson could’ve stopped the ball from reaching the outfield.
The Braves made the Dodgers sweat, battling back after losing the first two games of the series, but their extraordinarily successful season ended with a 6-2 loss in Game 4 of a National League Division Series on Monday.
Down a run, the Braves brought in rookie pitcher Chad Sobotka to keep the game manageable in the seventh inning. Justin Turner singled, Max Muncy walked and Manny Machado — the biggest acquisition of July’s trade deadline — tattooed a ball into the leftfield seats, sucking the life out of SunTrust Park.
After allowing the fewest home runs in the NL through the regular season, the Braves were decimated by the long ball against a burly Dodgers lineup. Los Angeles scored 14 of its 20 runs via home runs. The Braves hit two in the series — courtesy of Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna in Game 3.
The Braves misspent their best scoring opportunity in the fifth. Freeman singled, Markakis walked and Johan Camargo reached on a Machado fielding error. They loaded the bases with one out, already leading 2-1.
Tyler Flowers popped out to fellow catcher Yasmani Grandal in foul territory, then Ender Inciarte popped out to Machado.
Mike Foltynewicz, pitching on short rest for the first time in 2018, somewhat avenged his mediocre Game 1. He went four innings, holding the Dodgers to a run. Following a first-inning walk of Muncy, Machado ripped a double for a 1-0 lead. Foltynewicz settled in from there, throwing three more innings and holding the Dodgers to a run. Manager Brian Snitker lifted him for pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki in the fourth.
Suzuki’s pinch hit appeared paramount in a contest when both teams had struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Camargo and Flowers walked to start the inning against Rich Hill, who didn’t see much adversity in the first three innings. Inciarte bunted the runners over before Culberson grounded out to third and the Braves pulled Foltynewicz for Suzuki. The catcher’s twoout single to left scored Camargo and Flowers, putting the Braves ahead.
The defense let down the much-maligned Braves bullpen in the sixth. Markakis and Albies’ communication error proved disastrous, as Freese’s hit put the Dodgers ahead 3-2.
After Machado’s homer increased the Dodgers’ lead to four runs, the Braves attempted a final rally in the eighth. Inciarte and Culberson knocked back-toback two-out hits before Lucas Duda came in to pinch-hit. Duda demolished a ball to right field that turned foul before ultimately flying out.
Perhaps the Machado homer will resonate through the offseason, but it shouldn’t. The Braves’ 2018 season was a resounding success, conquering any reasonable expectations and fortifying a foundation. Several players took steps forward. The Braves won their division and, in the face of elimination, pushed the defending NL champion Dodgers.
There’s an active winter ahead for the Braves, who will have ample spending room and are expected to dip into the pool of higher-caliber players in free agency and the trade market. The team’s core remains mostly intact, with Markakis and Suzuki the key expiring deals.
With a few tweaks or a splashy move, the Braves’ next task is to transition into “real” contender status. This season, despite ending sooner than they would’ve liked, properly ushered them into a new era.