Braves Battle Cardinals: Soroka's Return and Power-Hitting Display - ATL ReKap

Good evening, fellow sports enthusiasts, and welcome back to another edition of ATL ReKap. I hope you're all doing well and had a restful Labor Day weekend. Tonight, we kicked off the series against the Cardinals, but unfortunately, we came up short, losing 10-6 with Michael Soroka on the mound.

Now, I've praised Soroka in previous blogs, and I still believe in his potential. It's important to remember that he's working his way back after two Achilles tears and some time in the minors. Adjusting to the majors can be challenging, but I think with time, he'll show us his full potential. I don't expect Soroka to return to Triple-A after this game; I believe the Braves will keep him in the rotation. He might even get one more start before the postseason, giving us a better idea of what he can bring to the team. It's a chance for the Braves to work on his development during the offseason and spring training.

Soroka's performance tonight was a bit tough, as he only lasted 3 innings, giving up 4 hits and 5 runs while striking out 6 and walking 1. Collin McHugh took over from Soroka and pitched another 3 innings, giving up 6 hits and 4 runs.

In my opinion, the Braves might be feeling a bit burnt out. After an impressive road trip, returning home after a day off may have caused a slight setback, but it didn't show much in tonight's game. Thankfully, the offense still packed a punch.

Ozzie Albies launched a rocket to right field in the first inning, scoring the Braves' first run and marking his 29th homer of the season. Then, in the sixth inning, Austin Riley and Matt Olson went back-to-back, with Olson crushing a monstrous homer to center field that traveled 448 feet with an exit velocity of 108.6 MPH. Olson's homer put him back at the top of the home run leaderboard with 45 homers this season, joining legends like Hank Aaron, Eddie Matthews, Chipper, and Andruw Jones with 45 homers in a regular season for the Braves.

Marcell Ozuna is still on fire, hitting his 33rd homer of the season in the bottom of the eighth, a 422-foot shot.

On the defensive side, Michael Harris II made an incredible play, stealing a home run by leaping over the center field wall and saving Lars Nootbar from hitting a solo shot that would have increased the Cardinals' lead.

The Braves will continue the series against the Cardinals tomorrow at 7:20 PM, with Spencer Strider taking the mound. Strider boasts a 3.56 ERA and an impressive record of 16-4. I have high expectations for Strider and hope he can pitch a solid 6-7 innings before being relieved. He's a force to be reckoned with, and I always enjoy watching him on the mound. This marks his second year playing for the Braves.

In terms of records, the Braves are on track to beat the 2019 Twins' home run record of 307 home runs. Currently, the Braves have 259 homers and are aiming for 309 by the end of the season.

That's all for tonight, folks. I hope you have a fantastic evening, and be sure to tune in tomorrow for another daily blog on ATL ReKap!