Braves Rally Late, Even Series in Tampa with 5-4 Win
- Charles Mays
- Apr 12
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 12
The Atlanta Braves needed this one. After missing early chances and falling behind, the bats came alive late, and Atlanta stormed back to take a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. It was a grind for most of the game, but the Braves found some late fireworks to even the series and give themselves a shot to take it tomorrow.
Early Missed Chances, Rays Take the Lead
Through the first two innings, the Braves stranded three runners. Michael Harris II led off the game with a double, but he was left standing on second. In the second inning, Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy opened with back-to-back base hits, but nothing came of it. Bryan De La Cruz grounded into a force out, and after Kelenic and Allen both got sat down, the inning fizzled.
AJ Smith-Shawver took the mound for Atlanta and gave up a solo big fly to Junior Caminero in the first. Rays went up 1-0 just like that.
In the bottom of the second, Smith-Shawver kept it clean. The highlight? Sean Murphy absolutely gunning down Jose Caballero trying to steal second. That’s your catcher, folks. Murphy should definitely be the guy behind the plate regularly.
Bases Loaded Jam Nearly Turns Ugly
Top of the third, Riley smacked a one-out line drive off the left field wall, but Christopher Morel got it in so fast, Riley had to stay at first. That would be it for the Braves that frame, as Ozuna rolled into a double play.
Smith-Shawver came out in the bottom half and opened with a strikeout. After a couple of singles and a four-pitch walk to Caminero, he suddenly had the bases loaded. Another walk followed, this one to Aranda, and the Rays made it 2-0. Could’ve gotten out of hand, but credit where it’s due — AJ locked in and got back-to-back strikeouts on Morel and Misner to escape with just the one run allowed. That was big.
Braves Stay Quiet, Rays Stay Ahead
Nothing doing for the offense in the top of the fourth. In the bottom half, Caballero led off with a bloop to right, but Riley doubled him off on a foul pop. Great heads-up play. Smith-Shawver followed that with another strikeout and got through the inning clean.
Nick Allen picked up a single in the fifth, but that was about it. Another missed opportunity. Like I said in my piece this morning, this team can’t keep showing up empty at the plate. Smith-Shawver had gone four innings and given up just two runs, and he was getting no help.
But to his credit, he kept grinding. Bottom of the fifth was his best inning yet, sitting the Rays down in order with two strikeouts.
Riley Keeps Hitting, Albies Comes Up Empty
Rasmussen’s day ended in the sixth as the Rays went to Manuel Rodríguez. Riley stayed hot with a leadoff single, and Olson followed with one of his own to push Riley to third. Braves were right there with a chance, but Albies grounded into a double play. Just brutal. Another two left on, one in scoring position.
Montero Escapes a Mess, Then Murphy Shows Up
Montero took over in the sixth and didn’t start off great. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs. But he pulled a Houdini act. Got Caballero swinging, turned a failed squeeze into a force at the plate, then got a groundout to escape. Tip of the cap.
Top seven, Murphy took matters into his own hands. Solo shot to center to finally get the Braves on the board. De La Cruz struck out, and after a pitching change, Nick Allen picked up his second hit of the day. Harris then worked a walk to bring up Riley, but this time the Rays got him on strikes. Another inning with runners stranded.
Bottom seven, Daysbel Hernández came in and gave up a leadoff double to Yandy Diaz. Aranda brought him in with a two-out RBI single to make it 3-1, and that’s all Tampa would get.
Back-to-Back Bombs Tie It Up
Top of the eighth, Ozuna got things started with a single, but Olson wiped him out with a double play. No problem though, Albies crushed one for a two-out homer, his second in as many games. Braves back within one. Then SEAN MURPHY AGAIN! Second homer of the game ties it up at three. De La Cruz walked, and Fairchild gave one a ride to the warning track, but it died out there. Braves and Rays head to the bottom of the eighth all knotted up.
Ninth Inning Magic
Dylan Lee came in for the Braves. Caballero singled and stole second, but then got caught trying to swipe third. Dylan sniffed it out and shut that down quick. Walls and pinch-hitter Danny Jansen reached, but Yandy Diaz grounded out to send it to the ninth, still tied.
And here we go, Nick Allen starts the top of the ninth with a double. Misner had it in his glove, but couldn’t hold on as he hit the ground. That’s hit number three for Allen. Can they get him in? You bet.
Michael Harris II comes up and smacks a two-run shot just over the wall in right. Braves take their first lead of the game, 5-3. Riley and Ozuna followed with back-to-back hits, but Olson hit into a double play. Albies walked, but no more runs came across. Still, Braves take a two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth.
Iglesias Closes It Down
Raisel Iglesias came on to finish it off. He got two quick outs, then gave up a solo homer to Aranda to make it 5-4. But he slammed the door shut right after, getting Christopher Morel to fly out to left. Ballgame. Braves win.
Final: Braves 5, Rays 4
Takeaways
Sean Murphy, take a bow: Two bombs, caught a runner stealing, and controlled the game. Has to be the everyday guy behind the dish.
Nick Allen’s big day: Three hits, including a clutch double to start the ninth. He’s playing with confidence.
Smith-Shawver gave you a shot: Five innings, two earned, and worked out of a jam. Braves couldn’t ask for much more.
The long ball is alive and well: Harris, Albies, and Murphy all went deep. Every Braves run came via the home run.
Rubber match time: Series now tied at one apiece. Chris Sale gets the ball tomorrow at 1:40 PM. Let’s see if the boys can grab the series win.
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