Takeaways: Atlanta's offense goes missing in game two loss to Arizona Diamondbacks

The Atlanta Braves dropped game two to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-3, in Truist Park, losing the series. It's only the 2nd time Atlanta has lost consecutive series this season, after they dropped two out of three to both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies in late May. What can we learn from the contest?

Atlanta had very few answers for Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson

Atlanta gave Nelson everything they had when these two teams met in Arizona in early June, with Nelson allowing six hits and three runs over four and a third innings, walking four and getting no strikeouts.

He obviously kept notes on the matchup.

Nelson pitched a gem tonight against the Braves, going seven innings with only three hits and two runs (both earned) with one walk and five strikeouts in only eighty-four pitches.

A fastball-heavy pitcher, Nelson gave up some hard-hit contact to Atlanta but mostly escaped severe damage. Of Atlanta's six hits off him, one was a triple (by Michael Harris II) and two were home runs, by Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley. But Nelson's ability to navigate through traffic and the most dangerous part of the lineup meant that both homers were solo shots and Atlanta only had three baserunners while Nelson was in the game.

Nelson mixed in just enough sliders, changeups, and curveballs to keep Atlanta's hitters off balance, giving up eighteen balls in play but only the three hits.

Atlanta finished the contest with two runs on four hits, with one runner left on base and went 0-5 with runners in scoring position.

Atlanta also didn't have answers for first baseman Christian Walker

Walker, who was a member of the Atlanta Braves for approximately nine days in 2017 before being waived during spring training, apparently held a grudge.

After going 3-5 with two home runs and five RBIs in last night's 16-13 Arizona victory, Walker got his revenge against Atlanta again tonight. The 32 year-old first baseman was 2-3 with a double and two runs scored, walking twice. He was one of four Diamondbacks with multiple hits in this game, along with RF Jake McCarthy, C Gabriel Moreno, and CF Alek Thomas.

Charlie Morton pitched well enough

The veteran took the ball and gave Atlanta five and two-thirds innings of six hit, four run ball with three walks and four strikeouts. He allowed no home runs, but Arizona batters didn't chase the curveball as much as most teams do, with Morton throwing 44 curves and getting only six swings and misses on the pitch.

It still graded out as his 2nd most effective pitch, however, with the fastball getting only two whiffs in 38 pitches. Charlie's fastballs thrown in the zone were mostly fouled off, with Arizona sending more out of play (8) than put into play (7).

Atlanta's bullpen covered 3.1 innings, with Collin McHugh doing most of that (2.1 innings). Together, McHugh and Lucas Luetge pitched 3.1 innings with one run across with three hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.

In the series, Atlanta relievers have already pitched ten innings and allowed nine runs on twelve hits, striking out six and walking four.

Austin Riley continues to be a one-man wrecking machine

Fresh off of a two-homerun, seven RBI night in Tuesday's series opener, Riley went deep for his third home run and eighth RBI of the series, sending a solo shot to left-center in the bottom of the 7th inning.

It's been a welcome sight for Riley, who entered the series in a bit of a slump: .221 in his last 30 games, including a .167 average in his last ten games.

Just like May was Marcell Ozuna's and June belonged to Michael Harris "JUNE-r", hopefully the 2nd half of July can be Austin Riley's time to get hot and carry the Braves offense while they're uncharacteristically not getting the balls to fall on certain nights.

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

Atlanta tries to salvage the series and avoid a sweep in tomorrow's afternoon finale, but it's no tall task: Spencer Strider (11-3, 3.66 ERA) and the Braves go up against Zac Gallen (11-4, 3.14 ERA), who is right behind Strider in the Cy Young conversation and is coming off of a start for the National League in last week's All-Star Game.

First pitch in the series finale is scheduled for 12:20 PM ET from Truist Park. The home broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.

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