A night that started with promise for the Atlanta Braves ended in heartbreak. Shohei Ohtani delivered a walk-off home run on his bobblehead night, sending the Dodgers to a stunning 6-5 victory and keeping the Braves winless through their first seven games of the season. The frustration in the Atlanta clubhouse was palpable, with players and manager Brian Snitker expressing disappointment over the team’s ongoing struggles.
A Promising Start, A Familiar Ending
For a moment, the Braves looked ready to snap their brutal losing streak. Facing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, they finally found some life at the plate, capitalizing on Dodgers’ mistakes early. By the end of the second inning, Atlanta had five runs on the board, all unearned due to a pair of throwing errors by Max Muncy.
But just as hope began to rise, the Dodgers clawed their way back. With the game tied in the ninth, Ohtani stepped up and crushed a first-pitch changeup from Raisel Iglesias deep into center field. The Braves, already reeling from their worst start since 2016, were left to board their flight home still searching for answers.
Missed Chances Cost Atlanta Again
One of the biggest concerns for Atlanta remains their inability to convert scoring opportunities. Their struggles with runners in scoring position have been glaring, and Wednesday night was no different.
- The Braves were 4-for-8 with RISP through the first two innings but managed just 1-for-7 the rest of the way.
- With the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth, they failed to bring a single run home.
- Austin Riley struck out, Marcell Ozuna’s flyout wasn’t deep enough, and Matt Olson popped up harmlessly to shortstop.
Riley, who is hitting just .111 (3-for-27) with 11 strikeouts, didn’t mince words about his struggles. “From a personal standpoint, it’s honestly embarrassing what I’ve displayed offensively,” he admitted after the game.
Raisel Iglesias Struggles in Unfamiliar Role
The late-inning collapse wasn’t entirely on the Braves’ offense. Their closer, Raisel Iglesias, was put in a difficult spot and couldn’t escape unscathed.
Iglesias, who had pitched only once in the regular season before Wednesday, was called upon in the eighth inning with a runner on first and a 2-0 count. He walked Will Smith and immediately gave up a game-tying double to Muncy. Then, in the ninth, he left a pitch over the heart of the plate, and Ohtani made him pay.
“It’s not on [Iglesias] whatsoever,” Riley said, defending his teammate. But Snitker acknowledged the reality of the situation: “What we’re going through is tough, very tough. These guys feel it.”
A Historic Slump for the Braves
The Braves’ 0-7 start is one of the worst in franchise history. Not since 2016 has an Atlanta team begun a season this poorly, and the numbers paint an ugly picture.
| Stat | Braves (First 7 Games) |
|---|---|
| Record | 0-7 |
| Total Runs Scored | 14 |
| Batting Avg w/ RISP | .067 (1-for-34) |
| Strikeouts | 64 |
Their nine total runs through six games was a franchise low, and the bats haven’t shown signs of life beyond the occasional big inning. Ozuna has been one of the few bright spots, posting a .552 on-base percentage thanks to an MLB-high 13 walks. But the lack of clutch hitting from the rest of the lineup has left Atlanta unable to close games.
Searching for a Way Out
Snitker’s frustration was evident, but so was his determination. “We put ourselves here,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep fighting and get ourselves out of it.”
The Braves return home now, hoping a change of scenery can shake them out of this nightmare start. But with the way things are going, they’ll need more than just a fresh ballpark—they’ll need answers, and fast.
