The Braves came away victorious last night, winning back-to-back games for the first time all season, thanks in large part to a huge performance from Alex Verdugo. However, there was a play in the sixth inning that could have cost them.

With the game tied at three, Jarred Kelenic came up to the plate with a runner on first and blasted a towering shot towards the right field wall. It looked as if it was going to leave the park, and he admired it as such, carrying his bat all the way down the first baseline. Only for the ball to carom off the wall, which led to Kelenic being thrown out at second.

Thankfully, it was only the first out of the inning, and Alex Verdugo was able to pick Kelenic up by bringing in the go-ahead run, which was all the Braves needed for the win. However, it could have turned out much differently, and there is absolutely no defending Kelenic in the situation. He’s a guy that’s hanging onto the roster by a thread while his team has twice as many losses as they do wins. That ball better be 15 rows up if you’re going to pimp it, and whatever happens, you better not get thrown out on the bases.

It’s baseball 101, and it’s something Brian Snitker infamously benched Ronald Acuña Jr. for doing in 2019, with Freddie Freeman publicly criticizing the Braves star outfielder after the game. But for whatever reason, Snitker didn’t feel there was a need to say anything to Kelenic after his blunder, which sparked quite the response from Ronald Acuña Jr.

This is a bad look all around for the Braves, and the last thing they need after finally winning a couple of games in a row. However, Acuña’s right about the double standard. Snitker made an example out of him back in the day for doing the same thing, and Acuña didn’t even get thrown out at second like Kelenic. The Braves also weren’t seven games under .500 and trying to keep their heads above water.

I’m not sure benchings at the professional level in these type of situations are ever necessary. With that being said, Snitker’s response when asked if he said anything to Kelenic was braindead given the history. Hopefully, it’s not a situation that lingers moving forward. The last thing the Braves need is another distraction.

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Photo: Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire