The Atlanta Braves lost 3-2 to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night. The loss is going in the books for Elder, but it wasn’t due to the lack of a quality effort. The decision to leave him in the game in the eighth inning was both mathematical (bullpen conservation) and respectful (Elder is having a career year).
“Bryce was still throwing the ball well, pitch count was OK. It’s unfortunate,” Weiss said after the game. “The game was going to be Bryce and Martin tonight.”
Last night, the Braves won a game on a walk-off single by outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, a .200 hitter. There have been so many ways this team has won games this season -a walkoff grand slam by Dom Smith, a game-winning home run from Matt Olson, a go-ahead home run from Michael Harris II- that it’s getting hard to keep up.
On Saturday night, Bryce Elder was looking to pick up a fifth win in 10 starts. The right-hander from Texas got some early run support from none other than the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, Drake Baldwin. With the count 1-0, Baldwin sent a fastball from Boston starter Payton Tolle into the center field seats. 1-0 Braves.
Baldwin had another RBI in the fifth inning when he drove in right fielder Jose Azocar with a single to center. Baldwin was thrown out at second when he tried to add an extra base.
The home run was Baldwin’s 13th of the season. He is second in the National League behind his teammate, and presumed fellow 2026 All-Star Matt Olson (14).
Braves manager Walt Weiss displayed supreme confidence in Elder, allowing him to finish the eighth inning after giving up a go-ahead two-run home run to Willson Contreras that put Boston up 3-2. Elder now has the longest start of the season for a Braves starting pitcher. His 8 innings, 4 strikeouts, no walks performance could arguably be the best start of the rotation.
The Red Sox tied the game at one in the 4th inning on a sacrifice fly from Masataka Yoshida. Mauricio Dubon, playing left field, nearly threw out the Boston Red Sox runner at home plate. The play was reviewed, and the ruling stood.
In the ninth, down 3-2, the Braves brought Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley to the plate. Albies popped out in foul territory. One out. Olson lined out to short. Two outs. Riley, hitting .215 and struggling all season, found his way to first base due to a throwing error by Red Sox shortstop Andruw Monasterio. Dubon, 0-3 at this point of the game, came to the plate with a chance to win or tie the game. He walked on four balls from Aroldis Chapman, the Red Sox closer and future Hall of Famer.
Michael Harris II, also 0-3 at this point, drew a walk. The game was in the hands of Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. He didn’t play hero tonight.
Up Next: The Braves and Red Sox will play at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
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