It’s hard to describe the Braves’ past two nights as anything but underwhelming, disappointing and unideal. With that said, they’ll have an opportunity to quickly erase the substandard results in the next week.
Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to the Royals spoiled the Braves’ homestand. After splitting with the Nationals, they were set up nicely with a pair against one of the American League’s worst teams. A chance to further build on their division lead against a softer opponent after the first-half schedule was mostly a gauntlet.
Instead they lost both, the first night falling just shy and the second a result of brilliant pitching by Brad Keller, a Flowery Branch native who must be thrilled with his homecoming. Keller logged seven scoreless innings, permitting just four hits.
The Braves were stellar the entire month of June. Eventually that was going to stabilize, even if it was against the afterthought Royals, who’ve won nine of their last 12. The Braves have lost six of eight.
“That was not a good two-game series for us,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Offensively, we just couldn’t get anything going. I thought our pitching staff did a great job. We’ve been clicking for a long time, but unfortunately we haven’t clicked for the last week.”
Still, the Braves won’t sweat their offensive struggles. Throughout the homestand, the team once firing on all cylinders has cooled off. Josh Donaldson has provided much of the production, but the team knows it’s bound to breakout again soon.
The next week would be a good time, when they travel to Philadelphia and Washington, two Eastern opponents who should see a slight crack in the Braves’ armor.
“I know we can get hot at any point in time,” manager Brian Snitker said. “These guys can start clicking. It’s hard to carry what we did in June, but we’re better than we’ve shown the last two nights too. It’s just one of those things where we have to keep getting after it.”
Keller’s mastery – the Braves didn’t get a runner to second against him – rendered Julio Teheran’s night a loss. Teheran impressed again, but Freeman’s two-out error loomed large. In the second inning with two on, a ball skipped by the usually sure-handed Freeman.
It scored Kansas City’s first run. Keller plated the next with a single. If Freeman makes the play, the game becomes a 0-0 marathon.
“It was right at me and then it hit the grass and dirt, next thing I knew it was 10 feet to my right,” Freeman said. “But I still should’ve knocked it down somehow. I don’t make excuses. I should’ve made that play.”
Braves fans should know better than to overreact at one series. Last June, the Braves posted a 2-4 homestand, dropping series to the Orioles and Reds. They followed that up by sweeping the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Or last August, when they were obliterated in a four-game series against the Rockies before hitting the road to sweep the Pirates and take three of four from Miami. The most memorable might be Boston’s sweep at SunTrust Park last September, when the Braves followed that up with their best road trip of the year: Taking three of four in Phoenix and sweeping the Giants.
Credit: Scott Cunningham
Credit: Scott Cunningham
The Braves, for whatever reason, seem lackadaisical in games around off days. This week’s schedule was awkward, with the Royals games sandwiched between a pair of off days. It won’t be an excuse, but the team undoubtedly performs better in its heavier slates.
“I think it’s better when we’re playing 20 in a row,” Snitker said. “But you’re going to go through this. We had two really good ballgames pitched against us the last two days. That team is better than their record, (judging) from the guys who pitched and played against us.”
The Braves get another day off Thursday and face the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park beginning Friday. It’s an important trip for the Braves, who’ll have a chance to push the Phillies and Nationals back. The trip’s finale will be in Washington on the afternoon of July 31, also the trade deadline.
“Every time you play in the division, it’s important,” Freeman said. “It’s a big road trip. Definitely need to turn the page after these couple games and go out there and play like we normally can.”
