Atlanta Braves pitcher Aaron Bummer throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
by Brady Penn
ATLANTA — After snapping a brief three-game losing streak earlier this week, the Atlanta Braves entered Wednesday night’s matchup with the Cincinnati Reds looking to match their season-best four-game win streak and reach .500 for the first time this season.
Grant Holmes took the mound for the Braves following a stellar outing Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the right-hander ran into trouble early when Reds leadoff hitter TJ Friedl homered on a full count in the first inning.
Cincinnati added a second run on a fielder’s choice before right-hander Hunter Greene even threw a pitch. Once Greene took the mound, he dominated early, striking out four of the first six batters he faced, including the side in the second inning.
In the third, Friedl homered off Holmes for a second time, extending the Reds’ lead to 3-0. Atlanta threatened in the bottom half of the inning but was unable to capitalize.
Tyler Stephenson added an RBI single off a Holmes breaking ball to make it 4-0 in the fourth. Greene, who had cruised through three innings, exited abruptly before the start of the fourth with what was later diagnosed as a groin injury.
Left-hander Brent Suter entered in relief and retired the side in order in the fourth, recording two strikeouts. In the fifth, Braves rookie Drake Baldwin launched his third career home run — and first pulled shot — to cut the deficit to 4-1.
Holmes battled through 5 1/3 innings on a night when his best stuff wasn’t there. Left-hander Aaron Bummer relieved him and stranded two runners in the sixth to keep the score intact.
The Braves began to claw back in the bottom of the sixth. Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna reached base against Scott Barlow, bringing Matt Olson to the plate against new reliever Taylor Rogers. Olson drove in Riley with an RBI single, and Ozzie Albies followed with a sacrifice fly to score Ozuna, making it a 4-3 game.
Dylan Lee delivered a clean eighth inning for Atlanta, but the top of the order went down in order against Tony Santillan in the bottom half. Enyel De Los Santos pitched a scoreless ninth, giving the Braves one final chance.
Atlanta managed to get a runner aboard in the ninth, but manager Brian Snitker’s decision to pinch-hit Eddie Rosario for Eli White with two outs backfired. Rosario struck out, ending the Braves’ rally and their three-game win streak.
Snitker defended the decision postgame.
“[Reds closer Emilio Pagán] has better numbers against right-handers,” Snitker said. “I thought Eddie could recreate some old magic.”
The Braves dropped to 17-19, two games under .500, heading into the series and homestand finale Thursday night. Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach (1-3, 3.92 ERA) is slated to start for Atlanta.
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