Braves Fall Short in Series Opener vs. Pirates, 3-2, Despite Late Rally

Bailey Falter shuts down Atlanta as Bryce Elder delivers another quality start with little support

After an emotional walk-off win in Atlanta courtesy of rookie catcher Drake Baldwin, the Braves hit the road with some momentum, taking on a reeling Pittsburgh Pirates squad riding a seven-game losing streak and fresh off firing manager Derek Shelton. Despite all signs pointing to a strong opportunity to build a win streak, Atlanta’s offense stalled in the series opener at beautiful PNC Park, falling 3-2 in a tight, low-scoring battle.

Bryce Elder, taking the mound for the Braves, delivered a solid outing, but opposing starter Bailey Falter stole the show—shutting down a streaky Braves lineup and earning just his second win of the season. With the loss, the Braves once again fell shy of climbing over the elusive .500 mark.

Early Pitcher's Duel in the Steel City

The game started quietly as both teams struggled to string together offensive momentum. The Braves made some early noise in the first inning when Austin Riley ripped a single to left and Marcell Ozuna drew a walk. However, a missed opportunity followed, with the Braves leaving the runners stranded.

Bryce Elder countered with a calm first inning, getting a big 4-6-3 double play after a leadoff single by Oneil Cruz  that came off the bat at 117.6 mph, then inducing a groundout to third. It was the beginning of what would be another consistent outing for the right-hander.

Sean Murphy drew a walk to lead off the second for Atlanta, but nothing came of it after Michael Harris II and Stuart Fairchild were retired, followed by a Nick Allen lineout to end the threat. Elder struck out the side in the bottom half, flashing his command early and often.

The third inning would be the game’s turning point. After the Braves went down quietly, Pirates outfielder Alexander Canario stepped to the plate and launched a 346-foot solo home run to left, giving Pittsburgh the first lead of the night. Elder responded well, ending the inning with two quick groundouts, but the tone was set: the Pirates came to play, and the Braves’ offense needed a spark.

Falter Frustrates Braves Bats

From the second through the fifth inning, Atlanta’s offense was effectively stifled by Bailey Falter, who retired 11 Braves in a row at one point. Not until a two-out single up the middle by Nick Allen in the fifth did Atlanta finally break the dry spell. Even then, they couldn’t capitalize, as Ozzie Albies grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the frame.

Falter’s outing was textbook efficient. He mixed his pitches, attacked the strike zone, and exploited the Braves’ impatience at the plate, especially with elevated fastballs. By the end of his six innings, he had allowed just two hits and no runs with a pair of walks and three strikeouts on 89 pitches.

Elder continued to match him inning-for-inning until the sixth, when the Pirates struck again. A leadoff strikeout was followed by a solo shot from Jared Triolo—his first of the year—to make it 2-0. A double off the center-field wall by Andrew McCutchen later in the inning brought home another run after Bryan Reynolds reached on a single, pushing the score to 3-0.

Late Push Comes Up Just Short

Enyel De Los Santos relieved Elder in the seventh and looked sharp, tossing a clean inning with two strikeouts. Elder’s final line was solid: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, and 8 K on 99 pitches. Once again, he gave the Braves a chance to win but received no run support.

David Bednar came on in the eighth for Pittsburgh, and the Braves finally looked like they might rally. Nick Allen collected his second single of the night, followed by another hit from Austin Riley. But with two runners on and only one out, both Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson went down on strikes—Ozuna swinging, Olson looking—leaving the Braves empty-handed yet again.

Aaron Bummer kept the deficit manageable with a clean eighth inning, highlighted by a leaping catch from Nick Allen at shortstop and two strikeouts. The door was open for a ninth-inning comeback.

Dennis Santana took the mound for the Pirates to close things out, and the Braves came alive. Eli White led off with a triple to deep the deep 410 mark in left-center at PNC Park. After a Sean Murphy groundout, Michael Harris II lifted a sac fly to score White. Down 3-1 with two outs, Alex Verdugo—pinch-hitting—came through with a single. Then, last night’s hero, Drake Baldwin, delivered again with an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2. Luke Williams pinch-ran and stole second, but Ozzie Albies’ lineout to center ended the game.

It was a valiant late effort, but too little, too late. 

Postgame Thoughts From the Clubhouse 

After the game, manager Brian Snitker kept things real in the clubhouse. On Bailey Falter’s performance, Snitker said, “He threw a lot of high fastballs and we couldn’t lay off of them.” It was a theme all night—Braves hitters chasing pitches out of the zone, unable to make the adjustment.

When asked about the broader state of the team, Snitker admitted, “We keep waiting to get this thing clicking.” It’s a sentiment that’s echoed with every near-.500 stretch of baseball this team plays.

On Bryce Elder’s outing, Snitker said, “We need him to be what he was a couple years ago,” referencing the 2023 version of Elder who looked like a rising star in the rotation. While the performance tonight was solid, the team’s inability to back him up on the scoreboard made it feel less impactful.

Asked about DrakeBaldwin’s continued production, Snitker praised the rookie’s approach. “He’s not up there trying to do too much,” he said. “The kid’s helping us win games.”

Matt Olson offered his perspective as well. “We’d like to get over the .500 hump and on the winning side of things,” he said. “It can definitely be better. At some point, it would be nice to get this thing rolling and not sweat it out as much.” Olson also commended Baldwin, calling him “very composed as a rookie,” and noting how he’s handled the pressure of big moments.

Final Thoughts: Solid Pitching Wasted Again

This loss was a textbook example of good pitching going unrewarded. Elder turned in a strong, composed outing with excellent strikeout numbers and no walks. De Los Santos and Bummer did their jobs out of the pen. Yet the Braves couldn’t muster enough offense early against a very beatable and down Pirates squad.

Bailey Falter, to his credit, was sharp, but the Braves chased high fastballs repeatedly and failed to adjust throughout the night. While the ninth-inning fight showed heart, the team must find ways to generate consistent offense early and not rely on late-inning heroics from young players like Drake Baldwin.

This Braves team has shown flashes, but the inconsistency is undeniable. Whether it's situational hitting, base running, or simply execution, something is always just a bit off. Until that changes, reaching the .500 mark is still haunting the Braves.

Up Next: Game Two in Pittsburgh

Game two of the Braves-Pirates series is set for Saturday at 4:05 p.m. from PNC Park. You can catch the action on FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, or on the radio at 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan.

Probable Pitchers:

Atlanta: AJ Smith-Shawver(2-2)

Pittsburgh: Andrew Heaney(2-3)

Can the Braves bounce back and even the series, or will the Pirates continue to capitalize on Atlanta’s offensive struggles?