Baseball fans enjoyed a tightly contested matchup Friday night as the Atlanta Braves took on the Boston Red Sox in a highly anticipated pitcher’s duel between Garrett Crochet and Chris Sale. The game delivered on expectations, with both starters showcasing their stuff. Ultimately, Atlanta came out on top, improving to 23-22 thanks to a pair of early home runs and a late-game collapse by the Red Sox bullpen.
However, the turning point — and a major missed opportunity — came in the sixth inning. The Braves managed to load the bases against Boston’s ace Garrett Crochet, setting the stage for manager Brian Snitker to potentially put the game away with a decisive move.
With momentum and leverage on Atlanta’s side, Snitker faced a critical decision that could have buried the Red Sox. Instead, his handling of the situation — reportedly similar to a prior misstep — drew sharp criticism. Fans and analysts alike have pointed to this moment as yet another instance where Snitker’s game management may have cost the Braves a chance to take full control.
Not pinch hitting for Stuart Fairchild with the bases loaded was absolutely incorrect
Friday night’s Braves–Red Sox matchup lived up to expectations, with Chris Sale and Garrett Crochet going toe-to-toe in a pitcher’s duel. Atlanta ultimately prevailed, moving to 23-22 thanks to a couple of early home runs and a late collapse from Boston’s bullpen.
Still, the game wasn’t without controversy, particularly regarding Braves manager Brian Snitker’s decisions in key moments. In the sixth inning, Atlanta loaded the bases against Crochet, giving Snitker a prime chance to deliver a knockout blow. Instead of calling on red-hot rookie Drake Baldwin, he opted for Stuart Fairchild — a puzzling choice considering Baldwin’s recent success against left-handed pitching (4-for-5 in May).
Insiders like Mark Bowman noted Baldwin was clearly the better option, especially given his clutch performance this season. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Baldwin is slashing .364/.417/.636 with a 195 OPS+, including a homer and five RBIs.
Adding to the confusion, Fairchild came up again in the ninth with the bases loaded and two outs — and Snitker stuck with him once more. Fortunately for Atlanta, Boston’s bullpen struggled to throw strikes, and Fairchild worked a walk to bring in an insurance run.
Though Snitker has generally managed Baldwin’s playing time well, this seemed like a clear moment to use him. Thankfully, it didn’t cost the Braves, as Raisel Iglesias closed things out and Fairchild even secured the final out in the field.
Still, the decision raised eyebrows — and served as a reminder that sometimes sticking with the “safe” move can backfire.