{"id":63358,"date":"2023-10-13T12:30:28","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T16:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=63358"},"modified":"2023-10-13T12:26:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T16:26:24","slug":"braves-memorable-record-breaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/10\/13\/braves-memorable-record-breaking\/","title":{"rendered":"Braves\u2019 Record-Breaking 2023 Season Is Over"},"content":{"rendered":"

All the offensive records and overpowering performances of the 2023 regular season are just background noise. The Atlanta Braves were again eliminated in the NLDS.<\/span><\/p>\n

A 3-1 loss in Game 4 ensured a 3-1 defeat in games in the NLDS to the Phillies \u2013 again. What went wrong?<\/span><\/p>\n

Red October<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Phillies\u2019 Power Shift<\/span><\/h3>\n

Bryce Harper<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Trea Turner<\/span><\/a>, and\u00a0<\/span>Nick Castellanos<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(the first player in postseason history with back-to-back multi-homer games) supplied plenty of power. The Phillies out-homered the Braves, 11-3, in the series.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the Phillies\u2019 starting pitching of\u00a0<\/span>Aaron Nola<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Zack Wheeler<\/span><\/a>, Ranger Suarez, and a host of relievers stopped the Braves cold.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Braves had one of the best offenses in baseball history, setting the major league record with a .501 slugging percentage and tying the record with 307 home runs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Phillies\u2019 pitching held them to three homers in four games. Atlanta scored only eight runs in the four games, with five of those runs coming in the Game 2 victory. Third baseman\u00a0<\/span>Austin Riley<\/span><\/a>\u00a0hit .353 with two home runs, but only three others hit better than .200 in the series.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Braves scored 146 runs in the first inning, 60 more than the league average, and went 78-25 when scoring first.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Phillies\u2019 pitching held them scoreless in the first inning throughout the NLDS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 4 Turning Point<\/span><\/h3>\n

A Game 5 was one wild pitch away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. was at the plate in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two outs. The score was 3-1, and reliever\u00a0<\/span>Craig Kimbrel<\/span><\/a>\u00a0uncorked a pitch that eluded catcher\u00a0<\/span>J.T. Realmuto<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inexplicably, the baserunners did not advance, thus denying an easy run and changing the following sequence of events.<\/span><\/p>\n

An alternate scenario, such as a 3-2 lead with runners on second and third, would have likely led to the Phillies intentionally walking Acu\u00f1a to load the bases and create a force out at every base. It would have brought\u00a0<\/span>Ozzie Albies<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to the plate.<\/span><\/p>\n

What might have been gave way to what happened. Instead, Acu\u00f1a drove a ball to deep left-center field that was caught at the fence by Johan Rojas for the third out.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Johan Rojas makes the catch and the @Phillies<\/a> keep the lead! #Postseason<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xJwOvyggnk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB (@MLB) October 13, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n