Well, that Boston series went well, I think. Blowing a 6 run lead is not that embarrassing.
Went to all three games.
Boston may be the best baseball team I’ve ever seen. No huge stars. No household names. Fundamentally sound top to bottom. Business-like. Confident. Every out is a tough out.
Atlanta doesn’t have the bullpen to hang in. In all three game the starting pitching was adequate. But Boston destroyed the relief staff.
Tua Tussiant no hit Boston for four innings Monday. Then he got tagged for three runs and came out. Atlanta cut it to 3-2 and then relievers that constantly pitched from behind in the count gagged up five runs over the last two innings. Atlanta left the bases loaded 17 times.
On Tuesday, Newcomb started and struggled with control. He still had a lead after four, but as soon as he got pulled in the fifth (with runners on) the bullpen promptly gave up hits and runs. Some other awful pitcher hacked up two more runs in the sixth.
Today, Fuzzywitz (or whatever) was rolling along. Went six innings, looked good. Held Boston to two hits and struck out five. Atlanta bats staked him to a 7-1 lead. And then, I guess because the Atlanta coaching staff thought they had it in the bag, they pulled him.
Biddle scraped through one inning, but they pulled him and put in some asshole named Winkler. That sack of shit (and I love the Red Sox) gave up four hits and four runs. Venters came in and puked up two more runs. Brach surrendered two hits and got one out. And then Minter. He finally stopped the bleeding with the game tied. Part of the Atlanta disaster was a garbage effort from some putz in right field (I think it was Duvall, might have been Adams) who half-assed dove at a ball he should have probably caught and then pulled up short and flinched at one that should have been a routine out (and would have killed the six-run rally).
Freddie Freeman comes off the bench and with two outs launches one into the seats. Atlanta back on top 8-7. Braves saved!!!
Nope. Good lord. Minter pitching in the top of the ninth. Got two outs around a Beninintendo single and then grooved one to a 37-year old guy who got called up on Tuesday, hadn't played in a major league game since 2017 and scuffled through the minors all season. Brandon Phillips deposited Minter's pitch in the bleachers. Boston leapfrogs ahead 9-8. Cue Kimbrell (who isn't as dominant as he has been but was good enough today). Sox sweep.
Atlanta's bullpen was atrocious. Constantly struggling with 3-0 and 3-1 counts. Passing out hits and RBIs like candy. As much as I'd like to see a Braves-Sox World Series, the Bravos aren't ready for prime time yet.
Duvall or Adams (whichever it was) needs to be benched. Henry Winkler needs to be flogged in the middle of Suntrust Square.
I did, however:
1) Get to see Acuna lead off a game with a home run. That was special.
2) See Freeman punish a ball
3) See one of the biggest comebacks in Red Sox history, the biggest of 2018 for sure
4) See what I consider to be one of the best teams in recent history
5) Watch that old Phillips guy write a feel-good story
SunTrust Plaza/Park or whatever they're calling it is pretty nice. Ate at two of the restaurants down there over the three days. No real wait. Good food. Good service. Getting in and out was a breeze, traffic was well managed.
If I had any complaint it's that the concessions in the stadium are pretty underwhelming. There are a couple of nice amenities -- the little convenience store with bottled drinks, some small souvenirs, susih, ice cream and other junk -- is a nice touch. I still think Turner Field did a much better job with concessions and also the clubhouse store.
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