Atlanta Braves fans annoyed by narrow loss to San Diego Padres: "That did not feel like a one-run loss" "Nineteen left on base is just embarrassing"
One night after prevailing in a walk-off, one-run victory, the Atlanta Braves came up on the flip side in a one-run loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Braves starting pitcher Jared Shuster was tagged for four earned runs on six hits and four walks over four innings, and Atlanta was unable to recover from losing for just the second time in eight games this season.
Final: Padres 5, #Braves 4.
The Atlanta Braves kept the score close on the strength of a three-run third inning, but could not muster a run off the Padres' relief trio of Brent Honeywell, Luis Garcia, and Josh Hader in falling by the lone run. Atlanta left 19 runners on base in the game, and the Braves' batters were just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring positions.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies, in an unfamiliar position as the team's cleanup batter, left eight of those runners on base in an 0-for-5 effort at the plate.
Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna hit the lone home run of the game, a solo shot in the second inning, but still drew the ire of Atlanta fans on a 1-for-4 night out of the No. 8 spot.
@Braves 19 left on base is just embarrassing
@Braves Walks and runners left on base killed them tonight. Would also like to see Ozzie out of the cleanup spot and Ozuna on the bench. Can’t complain about being 6-2 but that was a very winnable game, just didn’t execute
Albies, one of the Atlanta Braves' darlings since his debut with the team in 2017 at the tender age of 20, had his fanbase pulling their hair out as his doughnut at the plate dropped his 2023 batting average from .250 to .212.
A career .270 hitter, Albies is still shaking the rust off after missing nearly 100 games last season due to a broken left foot. Furthermore, Braves fans are growing impatient and want their old Ozzie back.
@Braves Please get Ozzie out of the cleanup spot
@Braves Albies just hurt the team on both sides of the ball tonight.
@Braves That did not feel like a 1 run loss.
Ozzie, we love you, but holy shit dude.
Shuster made just the second major-league start of his career and Atlanta Braves fans have seemingly already seen enough. After giving up four earned runs in 4-2/3 innings in his debut on April 2 against the Washington Nationals, Shuster matched the output in just four innings Friday night to inflate his ERA to 8.31 on the season.
@Braves Send Shuster down and tell Ozzie to stop swinging at every pitch
@Braves You want athletes on your team to have “ice in their veins”…. Shuster veins are full of bowling water
@Braves Bad new is we lost.. good news is so far we only seem to lose when the worst pitcher on planet earth is on the mound
For all the bellyaching, the Braves still lead the National League East divisional race by two games over the New York Mets.
@Braves Can’t win them all. We’ll get them tomorrow! #FortheA
@Braves It happens. Another close game with a good team. Back at it tomorrow.
Atlanta Braves face Padres twice more this weekend
The Braves and Padres face each other twice more this weekend. Atlanta's Charlie Morton is expected to take the mound for Saturday afternoon's contest, with Michael Wacha scheduled to counter for San Diego.