Re: MLB The Show 22 Franchise Discussion Thread
Game 1: Mike Soroka (2-1, 1.59 ERA) vs Stephen Strasburg (3-0, 0.78 ERA) The Braves would put the first run on the board in the third when Ronald Acuña Jr. drew a walk, stole a base and scored on a Dansby Swanson single. Acuña would then lead off the seventh with a solo home run. Stephen Strasburg would give two base hits before striking out Ozzie Albies, who would be the last batter he faced. Kyle Finnegan would come out of the bullpen and give up a double to Marcell Ozuna followed by a three run home run to Ronald Acuña Jr to put the Braves up 6-0. Stephen Strasburg's final line read as follows: 6.2 innings pitched, six hits, 4 runs, a walk and 10 strikeouts. Matt Olson would add another run in the ninth with a solo home run. Mike Soroka was locked in, going 8.1 shutout innings with a walk and eight strikeouts.
Game 2: Aaron Nola (1-3, 4.50) vs Mackenzie Gore (3-1, 4.24) Austin Riley, who has been struggling so far this year, hit a solo home run in the first to put the Braves up. He singled in another run in the third. Aaron Nola would cruise through the first four innings but have to leave in the top of the fifth with an injury to his hand*. Zach Eflin would be called upon to pitch in relief for Nola. He would walk Anderson Tejeda and give up a base hit to Lane Thomas before Keibert Ruiz singled in Tejeda to put the Nationals on the board. Eflin would then be able to get out of the inning with limited damage. The Braves would get their third run when Lane Thomas could not make a play in left, allowing Marcell Ozuna to score from second with two down in the seventh. That would be the end of the day for Mackenzie Gore, who went 6.2 innings, gave up 3 runs on 7 hits with a walk and 4 Ks. Victor Arano would come in and give up a run in the eighth after Travis d’Arnaud doubled and Dansby Swanson singled to score him. Ozzie Albies would then single, allowing Swanson to score from second and put the Braves up 5-1 late. The Nationals were just never able to get anything going, even when they worked the count and had runners on. Atlanta tacked on their sixth run in the ninth on a Robert Acuna Jr. sac fly. Raisel Iglesias would come on to pitch the ninth, but leave after two pitches with tightness in his neck**. Kenley Jansen would finish the game without much difficulty.
*Aaron Nola has a bruise to his hand and will be out for a few games
**No significant injury for Iglesias
Game 3: Spencer Strider (2-2, 4.91) vs Josiah Gray (2-1, 2.84) Atlanta flexed their muscles early again, scoring the first run when Austin Riley singled to score Dansby Swanson from second. They added two more in the third when Michael Harris tripled to score Acuna, and Riley hit a sac fly to score Harris. The Braves tacked on a fourth run in the fourth when Marcell Ozuna hit an RBI single. Washington would finally threaten in the bottom half, but could not score. Josiah Gray would leave in the sixth with a line score of 5.0IP, 8H, 4R, 1BB, and 4K. The Nationals would finally get on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Luis Garcia singled and Yadiel Hernandez followed with a 2 run HR to knock Spencer Strider out of the game. Strider, as he was in 2022, was dominant against the Nats despite only getting 1K. But his pitch count was high and his pitches finally flattened out enough for Washington to do damage. Jameson Taillon would enter from the ‘pen and shut the Nationals rally down. Washington would again threaten in the seventh, even loading the bases with two down, but Tyler Matzek would come in and strike out Luis Garcia to kill another rally. Meanwhile, Patrick Corbin would pitch two shutout innings before giving up a 2 run home run to Matt Olson in the bottom of the eighth, which would be the dagger for this game. The Braves would go on to win 6-2 and sweep the series.
It was a tough series for the Nationals, who now moved to 14-9 on the year. The Braves came into the season rated as the best team in baseball, and are getting hot after a slow start. Washington will get an off day and stay home to play the Cardinals (13-9) for three games.
2023 Standings have been posted to my spreadsheet (up to the completion of this past series) and team stats have been updated as well.
2023 Washington Nationals
Atlanta Braves (10-9) at Washington Nationals (14-6)
Atlanta Braves (10-9) at Washington Nationals (14-6)
Game 1: Mike Soroka (2-1, 1.59 ERA) vs Stephen Strasburg (3-0, 0.78 ERA) The Braves would put the first run on the board in the third when Ronald Acuña Jr. drew a walk, stole a base and scored on a Dansby Swanson single. Acuña would then lead off the seventh with a solo home run. Stephen Strasburg would give two base hits before striking out Ozzie Albies, who would be the last batter he faced. Kyle Finnegan would come out of the bullpen and give up a double to Marcell Ozuna followed by a three run home run to Ronald Acuña Jr to put the Braves up 6-0. Stephen Strasburg's final line read as follows: 6.2 innings pitched, six hits, 4 runs, a walk and 10 strikeouts. Matt Olson would add another run in the ninth with a solo home run. Mike Soroka was locked in, going 8.1 shutout innings with a walk and eight strikeouts.
Game 2: Aaron Nola (1-3, 4.50) vs Mackenzie Gore (3-1, 4.24) Austin Riley, who has been struggling so far this year, hit a solo home run in the first to put the Braves up. He singled in another run in the third. Aaron Nola would cruise through the first four innings but have to leave in the top of the fifth with an injury to his hand*. Zach Eflin would be called upon to pitch in relief for Nola. He would walk Anderson Tejeda and give up a base hit to Lane Thomas before Keibert Ruiz singled in Tejeda to put the Nationals on the board. Eflin would then be able to get out of the inning with limited damage. The Braves would get their third run when Lane Thomas could not make a play in left, allowing Marcell Ozuna to score from second with two down in the seventh. That would be the end of the day for Mackenzie Gore, who went 6.2 innings, gave up 3 runs on 7 hits with a walk and 4 Ks. Victor Arano would come in and give up a run in the eighth after Travis d’Arnaud doubled and Dansby Swanson singled to score him. Ozzie Albies would then single, allowing Swanson to score from second and put the Braves up 5-1 late. The Nationals were just never able to get anything going, even when they worked the count and had runners on. Atlanta tacked on their sixth run in the ninth on a Robert Acuna Jr. sac fly. Raisel Iglesias would come on to pitch the ninth, but leave after two pitches with tightness in his neck**. Kenley Jansen would finish the game without much difficulty.
*Aaron Nola has a bruise to his hand and will be out for a few games
**No significant injury for Iglesias
Game 3: Spencer Strider (2-2, 4.91) vs Josiah Gray (2-1, 2.84) Atlanta flexed their muscles early again, scoring the first run when Austin Riley singled to score Dansby Swanson from second. They added two more in the third when Michael Harris tripled to score Acuna, and Riley hit a sac fly to score Harris. The Braves tacked on a fourth run in the fourth when Marcell Ozuna hit an RBI single. Washington would finally threaten in the bottom half, but could not score. Josiah Gray would leave in the sixth with a line score of 5.0IP, 8H, 4R, 1BB, and 4K. The Nationals would finally get on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Luis Garcia singled and Yadiel Hernandez followed with a 2 run HR to knock Spencer Strider out of the game. Strider, as he was in 2022, was dominant against the Nats despite only getting 1K. But his pitch count was high and his pitches finally flattened out enough for Washington to do damage. Jameson Taillon would enter from the ‘pen and shut the Nationals rally down. Washington would again threaten in the seventh, even loading the bases with two down, but Tyler Matzek would come in and strike out Luis Garcia to kill another rally. Meanwhile, Patrick Corbin would pitch two shutout innings before giving up a 2 run home run to Matt Olson in the bottom of the eighth, which would be the dagger for this game. The Braves would go on to win 6-2 and sweep the series.
It was a tough series for the Nationals, who now moved to 14-9 on the year. The Braves came into the season rated as the best team in baseball, and are getting hot after a slow start. Washington will get an off day and stay home to play the Cardinals (13-9) for three games.
2023 Standings have been posted to my spreadsheet (up to the completion of this past series) and team stats have been updated as well.
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