The Atlanta Braves faced off against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, April 11, 2025, at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, in a game that promised excitement and drama. The Braves, struggling with a 3-9 record, were looking to turn their season around against the Rays, who came into the matchup with a slightly better 5-7 record.
Starting for Atlanta was Bryce Elder, who was seeking his first win of the season after posting a 6.75 ERA in his previous outing. Meanwhile, Taj Bradley took the mound for Tampa Bay, boasting a 4.91 ERA but coming off a solid performance in his last game against Texas.
As the game began, the Braves struck first in the top of the first inning. Austin Riley reached base with a single, followed by a walk to Marcell Ozuna. Matt Olson then delivered an RBI single to center field, bringing in Riley and giving Atlanta an early 1-0 lead. However, Bradley managed to escape further damage by striking out Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic with the bases loaded.
Despite the rocky start, Bradley settled in, working six innings and limiting the Braves to just one run on five hits, striking out seven batters along the way. His performance was crucial, especially since the Braves had arrived at their hotel at 4:45 a.m. after a rain-delayed, extra-inning victory over the Philadelphia Phillies the previous night.
After the Braves took the lead, the Rays responded in the bottom of the third inning. Taylor Walls and Yandy Diaz both hit one-out singles, setting the stage for Brandon Lowe, who tied the game with a sacrifice fly. The momentum shifted in the Rays' favor in the fourth inning when Danny Jansen launched a two-run homer, his first of the season, putting Tampa Bay ahead 3-1.
As the game progressed, the Rays continued to build on their lead. In the sixth inning, Christopher Morel hit a solo home run, also marking his first of the year, extending the Rays' lead to 4-1. Following that, Jansen added another run with an RBI single, making it 5-1.
Atlanta, however, wasn't ready to give up. In the eighth inning, they fought back with two home runs off Tampa Bay reliever Edwin Uceta. Marcell Ozuna hit a 425-foot shot to left-center field, and Ozzie Albies took advantage of the short porch in right for his second homer of the season, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
But the Rays responded emphatically. Jansen, who had already been a thorn in the Braves' side, drove in his fourth run of the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth, scoring Morel and increasing the lead to 6-3.
With the game on the line, Braves' pitcher Bryce Elder took the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits while striking out four. His record fell to 0-1 for the season. Meanwhile, Taj Bradley improved to 2-0, showcasing his potential as a key pitcher for Tampa Bay.
The Braves' 6-3 defeat marked their eighth consecutive loss on the road, and they became the first National League team to reach ten losses this season, now sitting at 3-10. Despite the loss, Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna continues to lead the team with a 195 wRC+ and 0.6 fWAR, while Spencer Schwellenbach has emerged as the team's best pitcher.
Looking ahead, the Braves will send RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-2, 5.19 ERA) to the mound against the Rays' RHP Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 1.38 ERA) on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The Braves are hoping to shake off their poor start and build some momentum in the upcoming games.
As the series continues, fans will be eager to see if the Braves can bounce back and show the resilience they displayed in their previous series against the Phillies. The Rays, on the other hand, will look to capitalize on their recent victory and build on their momentum as they aim to climb the standings in the competitive American League East.
