The Braves lost 9-6 to the Royals on July 30 as the bullpen collapsed again, wasting a Max Fried start and a Jonathan Aranda homer. Read how it all fell apart.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a story Braves fans have seen too many times this season. A flash of early brilliance, a gritty start from an ace, and then a late-game meltdown. That script played out once again in Kansas City on Wednesday, as an early 3-0 lead evaporated into a 9-6 loss to the Royals, extending the team's painful losing streak to six games.
Tough one tonight, but we keep grinding. This group doesn’t quit.
The night started with promise at Kauffman Stadium. Jonathan Aranda ignited the offense by leading off the third inning with his 15th home run of the season, sparking a three-run frame. Max Fried seemed to settle in, at one point retiring 14 consecutive Royals batters. But the wheels came off in the seventh inning. After an RBI double by Taylor Walls, Fried was pulled, and the Royals' offense came alive against the Braves' bullpen. A pivotal three-run double by Kyle Isbel and a homer from Vinnie Pasquantino sealed Atlanta's fate.
Once again, the bullpen was the Braves' Achilles' heel. After Fried's exit, the relief corps couldn't stop the bleeding, allowing four more runs over the final two innings. This troubling trend has seen the bullpen's collective ERA swell to 4.14, ranking a dismal 20th across MLB. A quality start was wasted, and a winnable game slipped away.
Despite the crushing loss, there were a few individual bright spots. Jonathan Aranda continued his solid season, going 2-for-4 with his homer and 2 RBI. Michael Harris II also had a strong night at the plate, collecting three hits in five at-bats and scoring twice. While the players on the field fight, the front office remained silent, with no trades or roster moves announced to shake up the struggling squad as the team's record dropped to 44-61.
As the Braves pack up and look to the next game, the message from the clubhouse is one of unity and perseverance. But for a team mired in a six-game skid and falling further in the standings, positive thinking alone won't be enough. The bullpen must find answers, the offense needs to capitalize on its opportunities, and the entire team has to find a way to snap out of this mid-season funk before the hole becomes too deep to climb out of.
