Braves offense pitiful again in 4-3 extra innings loss to Dodgers

As has been the case for seemingly every game lately, the Braves found themselves in a pitcher’s duel. The bats were mostly quiet and the arms were superb. The game went to extras tied 2-2, the sixth time in 30 games Atlanta has needed more than nine to decide the outcome. And in the end, the Braves’ bats were unable to do enough in a 4-3 loss to support another terrific effort from the pitching staff.

The two clubs traded ghost runs in the 10th inning to force the eleventh. Despite having the top of the order ready to go, the Braves were held scoreless in the top half of the inning. The Dodgers would not return the favor, handing the Braves their second walk-off loss of the week.

Austin Riley started the evening with a no-doubt, 449-foot shot to center field to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead. It had to feel good for Riley, who has struggled in recent weeks but seems to be awakening from his slumber.

Los Angeles tied it up in the third, and Teoscar Hernandez gave his squad a 2-1 lead with a solo homer in the fourth on a poorly located fastball from Morton. It was one of the few mistakes Charlie made; he pitched well against one of the top lineups in the game, working six innings on 98 pitches. He surrendered just two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out five. Morton’s ERA sits at 3.50 through six starts with a supporting 3.72 FIP and 3.83 xFIP.

The Braves’ offense went into hiding once again in the middle innings, often going down without much of a fight against Dodgers starter Gavin Stone. Thankfully, Ronald Acuńa Jr. finally timed a fastball at the top of the zone to tie it at 2-2 in the eighth.

That was all the offense in regulation as the Braves’ trio of Aaron Bummer, AJ Minter and Joe Jimenez did its job to keep L.A. at just two runs.

The Braves and Dodgers continue the series Saturday night as Bryce Elder squares off with Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 2.72 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 2.64 xFIP), who’s been one of the better starters in baseball through the first month. Elder is going to need his full command on the mound; walks will make for a quick exit against this potent Dodgers lineup. It will be another late one with first pitch an hour earlier at 9:10 p.m. ET.