Read the Rays side (the whole game, score included)
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
This is Missed It. Tampa Bay at Atlanta, Thursday, September 10, 83 and partly cloudy at Truist Park, with the Rays. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.
Pregame
It's the Tampa Bay Rays against the Atlanta Braves, and we've got a pitcher's duel brewing on paper. The Rays are on the road, looking to steal one from the Braves on their home turf. First pitch is moments away, and the tension is already thick in the air. We know what this team can do when the bats get going, and we're hoping tonight is the night they break through. Let's get into it.
Innings 1-3
We start the game with a spark. Ryan Vilade steps in with nobody out and delivers, singling on a fly ball to left fielder Brewer Hicklen. Yandy Díaz moves to second, and just like that, we've got runners on first and second with no outs. The crowd is buzzing, and we're feeling it. This is exactly the kind of start we needed. But then Junior Caminero steps up, and the air goes out of the balloon. He pops out to second baseman Mauricio Dubón on the infield fly rule. One out, runners still on first and second. We're still in business, but the momentum takes a hit. Jonny DeLuca doesn't let it die. He singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brewer Hicklen, and Yandy Díaz motors to third. Ryan Vilade holds at second. Bases loaded, one out. This is the moment. We've got a chance to strike first and put the Braves on their heels. And then Chandler Simpson steps in. The bases are juiced, the crowd is on its feet, and we're all leaning forward. He grounds into a double play, first baseman Matt Olson to catcher Drake Baldwin to first baseman Matt Olson. Yandy Díaz is out at home. Chandler Simpson is out at first. Inning over. Score still zero-zero. That one stings. We had them right where we wanted them, and the double play snuffed it out. The Braves come up in the bottom of the first, and they go down in order. Four batters, no runs. We match them. The second inning is a quiet one. We send three batters up, and three batters come back. No runs. The Braves do the same. Three up, three down. We're locked in a scoreless tie, and it feels like the first team to blink loses. The third inning follows the same script. We get three batters, no runs. The Braves get three batters, no runs. Through three, it's zero-zero, and both pitchers are dealing. We've had our chances, and we've let them slip. But it's still early, and this game is far from over.
Innings 4-6
The fourth inning comes and goes without a whisper. We send three batters up, and they go down in order. The Braves do the same. Zero-zero, and the tension is building. Every pitch feels heavier now. Every swing feels like it could change everything. The fifth inning is more of the same. We get four batters up this time, but the result is the same. No runs. The Braves answer with three batters and no runs of their own. We're halfway through this game, and neither side has budged. It's a chess match, and we're waiting for someone to make the first mistake. Then comes the sixth, and we finally get something going. With two outs, Jonny DeLuca singles on a fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Junior Caminero moves to second. Two outs, two on, and we've got a real chance to break through. Chandler Simpson steps in, and he lays down a bunt. It's a soft grounder to pitcher Martín Pérez, who flips to first baseman Matt Olson. The call on the field is out, and we challenge it. We're holding our breath, waiting for the replay. The umpires come back, and the call is upheld. Chandler Simpson is out at first. Inning over. Zero-zero. That one hurts. We had the chance, and the bunt didn't fall. The Braves escape again, and we're left wondering if we'll ever get a run across. Through six, it's still zero-zero, and this game is hanging on a knife's edge.
The Sequence
The bottom of the sixth comes and goes. Three batters, no runs. The seventh is the same. We get three batters, no runs. The Braves get three batters, no runs. The eighth starts, and we send three batters up. No runs. It's still zero-zero, and we're running out of time. Then the bottom of the eighth happens. The Braves finally break through. With one out and a runner on, Austin Riley singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jonny DeLuca. Ozzie Albies scores. The Braves take a one-nothing lead, and the air goes out of the room. But they're not done. With one out and two on, Ha-Seong Kim singles on a ground ball to center fielder Cedric Mullins. Austin Riley scores. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Just like that, it's three-nothing, and we're staring at a mountain we might not be able to climb. The top of the ninth rolls around, and we're down to our last three outs. We need a miracle. Victor Mesa Jr. steps in with one out and the bases empty. He swings, and he connects. It's a line drive to right center field, and it's gone. Victor Mesa Jr. homers, and we've got a run on the board. It's three-one, and for a moment, we believe. But that's all we get. The comeback falls short. The Braves close it out, and the final is three-one. We fought, we scraped, and we had our chances. But tonight, the Braves were just a little bit better.
Wrap-up
Final score, Tampa Bay Rays one, Atlanta Braves three. We had our chances early, and we couldn't cash in. The double play in the first inning, the bunt in the sixth, the missed opportunities in between. It's a tough one to swallow, because we were right there. We were in this game from the first pitch to the last. But the Braves found a way to break through, and we didn't. We go home with a loss, but we don't hang our heads. This team fights, and we'll be back at it tomorrow. That's all we can do.
Outro
That was Tampa Bay at Atlanta, from the Rays side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.
Read the Braves side (the whole game, score included)
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
This is Missed It. Tampa Bay at Atlanta, Thursday, September 10, 83 and partly cloudy at Truist Park, with the Braves. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.
Pregame
It's Tampa Bay Rays at Atlanta Braves, and we are locked in at zeroes before a single pitch is thrown. The Braves are home, the crowd is buzzing, and we've got a ballgame to play. Nothing decided yet, everything ahead of us. Let's get into it.
Innings 1-3
Top of the first, and Tampa Bay comes out swinging. No outs, a runner on, and Ryan Vilade singles on a fly ball to left fielder Brewer Hicklen. Yandy Díaz moves to second. Already, they're threatening. The tension builds, and then Junior Caminero pops out to second baseman Mauricio Dubón on the infield fly rule. One down, but the runners stay put. Then Jonny DeLuca singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brewer Hicklen. Yandy Díaz to third, Ryan Vilade to second. Bases loaded, one out, and this crowd is holding its breath. Chandler Simpson steps in, and he grounds into a double play, first baseman Matt Olson to catcher Drake Baldwin to first baseman Matt Olson. Yandy Díaz is out at home, Chandler Simpson is out at first. Inning over. No runs. We escape. That was the moment, right there, the kind of play that keeps a game scoreless and a crowd on its feet. Bottom of the first, four batters come up for Atlanta, and we can't push anything across. Score stays 0 to 0. Top of the second, Tampa Bay sends three batters to the plate, and nothing happens. Bottom of the second, three batters for us, and still nothing. Top of the third, three more for Tampa Bay, no runs. Bottom of the third, three for us, no runs. Through three innings, it's 0 to 0, and this one is shaping up to be a pitcher's duel.
Innings 4-6
Top of the fourth, Tampa Bay gets three batters, and we hold them. Bottom of the fourth, three for us, and we can't break through. Top of the fifth, four batters for Tampa Bay, and still nothing. Bottom of the fifth, three for us, and the zeroes keep piling up. Top of the sixth, and here's where it gets interesting. Two outs, a runner on, and Jonny DeLuca singles on a fly ball to right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Junior Caminero moves to second. Two on, two outs, and Tampa Bay is threatening again. Then Chandler Simpson tries a bunt, and the Rays challenge the play at first. The call on the field is upheld. Chandler Simpson grounds out softly, pitcher Martín Pérez to first baseman Matt Olson. Inning over. No runs. We dodge another bullet. Through six, it's still 0 to 0, and every pitch feels like it matters.
The Sequence
Bottom of the sixth, three batters for us, and we can't get anything going. Top of the seventh, three for Tampa Bay, and we hold the line. Bottom of the seventh, three for us, and the scoreboard hasn't moved. Top of the eighth, three for Tampa Bay, and we're still locked at zeroes. Then comes the bottom of the eighth, and this is where the game turns. Seven batters come up for Atlanta, and we finally break through. One out, a runner on, and Austin Riley singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jonny DeLuca. Ozzie Albies scores. 1 to 0, Braves. The dam breaks. Then, one out, two on, and Ha-Seong Kim singles on a ground ball to center fielder Cedric Mullins. Austin Riley scores. Mike Yastrzemski scores. Just like that, it's 3 to 0, and this place is rocking. Top of the ninth, Tampa Bay gets one back. One out, bases empty, and Victor Mesa Jr. homers on a line drive to right center field. 3 to 1. But that's all they get. Five batters come up, and we close it out.
Wrap-up
Final score, Tampa Bay 1, Atlanta 3. We win by two. It took eight innings to find the offense, but when we did, we made it count. Austin Riley and Ha-Seong Kim came through in the biggest spot, and the pitching held Tampa Bay at bay all night long. That's a ballgame, Braves fans. We take the win, and we move on.
Outro
That was Tampa Bay at Atlanta, from the Braves side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.