The Atlanta Braves hit a new low Thursday afternoon, and it wasn’t just another notch in the loss column—it was one for the history books. For the first time since July 17, 1973, the Braves lost a game after holding a six-run lead in the ninth inning.
A total collapse against the Arizona Diamondbacks handed Atlanta an 11-10 defeat and completed a three-game sweep at Truist Park.
766 Straight Games Snapped
Before Thursday, the Braves had won 766 consecutive games when leading by six runs or more in the ninth. Not anymore.
In a blink, the momentum swung hard. Right-hander Scott Blewett started the inning and surrendered two homers and two walks before the Braves called on closer Raisel Iglesias—in a game that shouldn’t have required one. But Iglesias couldn’t stop the bleeding. He allowed three more runs, giving Arizona the improbable lead.
From a 10-4 cushion to an 11-10 loss, it was the kind of unraveling that forces a clubhouse to sit in stunned silence—and that’s exactly what Braves manager Brian Snitker expected on the team’s flight to San Francisco.
“It’s a horrible loss,” Snitker told reporters. “Now we’ve got to sit on it for five hours on the airplane, and we’re all going to be miserable. And we should.”
Braves Offense Awakens, But It Wasn’t Enough
In a cruel twist of irony, the Braves offense finally woke up. They scored 10 runs for the first time since May 18, and that looked like more than enough for most of the afternoon. But the bullpen collapse rendered that offensive outburst meaningless.
“When you’re up six runs in the ninth, you feel like you should win the game, obviously,” Snitker said. “But we didn’t. You’ve got to do your job. We’ve got to play better.”
Snitker’s Tone Turns Stern—And Honest
Snitker, usually composed, didn’t sugarcoat the loss. His frustration was clear, not just with the result but with the execution—or lack thereof.
“We didn’t execute. We didn’t put the game away. We’ve got to do that,” Snitker said. “Really, really hard loss.”
Despite the sting, Snitker made a point to reaffirm his belief in the team. The Braves are now 27-34, mirroring their 27-27 record after recovering from an 0-7 start. They’ve lost 11 of their last 14 and are seven games under .500, but Snitker hasn’t given up on this group.
“We’re a good team, we’re not a bad team. We’re a good team that’s playing bad right now,” Snitker insisted. “We can’t execute. We can’t finish a game, and we’ve got to do better… I’ve got to do better. The coaches got to do better. The players gotta do better.”
Where Do the Braves Go From Here?
There are no easy answers, but change may be on the horizon. Craig Kimbrel’s call-up is looming, and questions persist about Iglesias’ role in the ninth inning. But for now, the message is clear: this loss stings and everyone knows it.
Snitker’s closing remarks hit the note Braves fans needed to hear. “We have a group that can do that. That can rally the thing and get this thing turned around because I’ve seen it before. I’ve seen this group do it, and we will.”
The question now is: how soon?
