Coming into Wednesday’s game, The Braves’ franchise record for runs scored in a game was 23, which occurred on September 2nd, 1957.
Some fun stuff from the 1957 #Braves scoring a franchise record 23 runs in a game on September 2:
Every position player had a multi-hit game, as did reliever Ernie Johnson (who also earned the win in that game).
Hank Aaron (and Wes Covington) had 6 RBI.
Eddie Mathews homered. https://t.co/xJrGxQmjTo
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) September 10, 2020
Over 63 years later, the Braves smashed that mark by the 6th inning.
It all started in the second frame, with Atlanta’s offense putting up an 11 spot — the second time in as many weeks that they have scored at least ten runs in a single inning. The route continued in the third when Freddie Freeman hit his eighth home run of the season. The Braves’ first baseman’s average now sits at .329 with an OPS of 1.048. If he stays this hot, his name will be heard in MVP conversations by the end of this shortened campaign.
In his first game back from a month-plus stint on the IL, Ozzie Albies also got in on the fun. He homered to cap off the eleven run barrage the Braves put together in the second inning and ended the night with three hits in six at-bats.
Fittingly, Ronald Acuña — who also homered earlier in the game — delivered the hit that broke the franchise record. With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, he doubled off the right-field wall, clearing the bases and giving the Braves 25 runs, but they weren’t done yet.
As good as Freeman, Albies, and Acuña performed, all of them were outdone by Adam Duvall, who had his second three-home-run game of the season. His third homer of the night was a grand slam that gave the Braves 29 runs.
In Duvall’s last 31 plate appearances, he has 16 hits, 8 home runs, and 12 RBIs. He nows boasts a .272 average on the season with 13 homers and 29 RBIs, and his surge in 2020 is what has made this Braves’ offense go from good to great.
Now, I don’t want to bring up the negative when the Braves put together one of the most historic offensive performances in baseball history, but I wouldn’t be speaking my mind if I didn’t.
Despite all the Braves’ runs, no answers were found regarding their rotation. Their newest addition, Tommy Milone, made his third start with a tomahawk across his chest — and unbelievably, for the second time, the Braves’ bats scored twenty runs. However, Milone has received a no-decision in both outings because he couldn’t make it through five innings.
In three appearances with Atlanta, Milone has yet to make it past the fourth inning. Tonight, he was spotted 13 runs through four frames, but he still allowed eight to cross the plate in just 3.1 innings. Luckily, the Braves’ bats never stopped hitting, and the bullpen continued their excellent work.
Somehow, Atlanta has found a way to win all three of Milone’s starts, but there’s no way that success is sustainable with the way he’s been pitching. Sometimes, you just have to take a loss on a trade, and this is one Atlanta probably has buyer’s remorse with already. Hopefully, the two players they gave up for his services never come close to reaching the major leagues.
The Braves don’t have many better options, so perhaps they trot Milone out there one more time before pulling the plug, but these kinds of performances can’t be tolerated for much longer. He’s tossing batting practice out there, and there is little chance he’s a contributor come the postseason. With only 17 games remaining, the Braves must act swiftly.
While tonight’s headlines should deservedly praise Atlanta’s offense for their historic performance, it’s hard to get too excited, given the current state of the starting rotation. In the long run, this is just one win. The Braves still need to find at least two reliable starting pitchers, and they only have three weeks to do so.
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