Takeaways from Atlanta's 11-5 loss to the Miami Marlins on Saturday afternoon

The Braves lost, but Matt Olson set the single season homer record for the franchise in the process

The Atlanta Braves dropped game two (and the series) against the Miami Marlins with an 11-5 loss on Saturday afternoon. Here's what you need to know from the contest:

The top of the lineup didn't miss a beat without Ronald Acuña Jr

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A day after leaving Friday's game early with right calf tightness, Ronald Acuña Jr was out of the lineup as a precautionary measure. 

(Miami playing on turf instead of grass contributed to this, as turf doesn't have as much give if you're worried about a lower-leg injury)

But you almost couldn't tell Ronald wasn't there. 

Atlanta opened the game with three runs in the first six pitches from starter Bryan Hoeing, as Michael Harris II doubled on the first pitch and both Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley hits homers to put Atlanta on the board early. 

Atlanta's 135 first-inning runs was already a franchise record, but they're now only twelve runs away from the National League record of 147 (2000 St. Louis Cardinals), per the broadcast.  

Kevin Pillar, starting in right field for Acuña, even did his best Ronald impression with an outfield assist at 3rd base, throwing out Luis Arraez trying to go first to third on a base hit. 

But Jared Shuster wasn't able to hold that lead

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta's used sixteen different pitchers to start games this season (thirteen starters and three relievers); injuries played a part in that, but performances like today are a big part of it, as well. 

Shuster gave up that early lead, as the lefty allowed four runs on the first eleven pitches of the game and didn't record an out until the eighteenth pitch. Luis Arraez, one of the softest hitters in all of baseball, homered for the third time in the series to open the 1st inning. Miami followed with a single, advanced the runner (and got a second) on an Austin Riley fielding error, and then cleared the bases on an Yuli Guerriel homer. 

Shuster couldn't get his stuff to work today, with his slider only getting one whiff on eight swings (fourteen total pitches) and both his fastball location and velocity not doing him any favors. 

Shuster would finish the outing after only three innings, with six hits and five runs (four earned) on his ledger, walking two and striking out only two on fifty-six pitches (thirty-two strikes)

Big Jackson Stephens delivered when it mattered

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As they have so many times this season, the bullpen came in and carried the load. Newly-recalled Jackson Stephens was the first man up, covering the 4th through 6th innings for Atlanta. He finished the three inning outing with four hits and two walks allowed, but no runs and four strikeouts. It wasn't an incredibly efficient performance, throwing sixty-eight pitches (forty-one strikes), but Stephens absolutely answered the call and kept Atlanta in the game. 

AJ Minter pitched a scoreless 7th inning before Kirby Yates got victimized for a two-run homer with two outs in the 8th to give Miami the lead. The Marlins added on after Yates was lifted for Michael Tonkin, who gave up a grand slam to Jazz Chisholm for a 11-5 Miami lead. 

Matt Olson made history

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta's first baseman, who had been sitting in a tie with franchise great Andruw Jones for the most homers in a single season in Braves history, finally broke that tie with a 6th inning blast

Olson's homer, his 52nd of the season, was launched to right-center to give the Atlanta-area native the record. 

Olson leads all of baseball in both homers and RBIs (129) and is second in the National League in OPS with 1.006, behind only Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts' 1.016. 

(Still not enough to give Betts the MVP over Acuña, Bill Plaschke.)

What's next for the Atlanta Braves? 

Atlanta closes the series on Sunday afternoon, with Charlie Morton (14-11, 3.42 ERA) on the mound against LHP Jesus Luzardo (9-9, 3.82 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 PM ET, and the broadcast can be seen on Bally Sports Southeast. 


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Lindsay Crosby
LINDSAY CROSBY

Managing Editor for Braves Today and the 2023 IBWAA Prospects/Minors Writer of the Year. You can reach him at contact@bravestoday.com