What bullpen struggles? What questionable in-game management? What starting rotation uncertainty? What short-lived offensive doldrums? The Braves made all of these questions very, very moot on Sunday night, erupting offensively early and often for a triumphant, definitive 11-5 win over the Cleveland Indians. The party started with two Josh Donaldson homers in the game’s first two innings and didn’t really end until much, much later, as Max Fried threw up an array of zeroes and the rest of the lineup joined in on the run-scoring fun.
This was supposed to be an intriguing pitching matchup between two promising young arms, but Cleveland starter Shane Bieber failed to live up to that particular promise.