Atlanta Braves Set Record Breaking Collapse as Season Falls Apart
The Atlanta Braves historically ended their season in horrific style when they became the first MLB team to blow an eight game lead for a playoff spot when they lost in the 13th inning 4-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies Sept. 29.
Just a short time later, the Boston Red Sox broke the Braves new record by blowing a nine game lead for the month to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Still, this did not make the feeling of losing any better. "This is tough. This is one of the worst feelings I've ever had on a baseball field," said Braves catcher Brian McCann.
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Coming into the last game of the season, the Braves were tied with the St. Louis Cardinals, who had a miraculous September as they came back from a deficit of 10 1/2 games on Aug. 26.
St Louis won their game against the National League's worst team, the Houston Astros winning 8-0.
The Cardinals went on a tear in September winning 23 of their last 31 games as the Braves dropped 18 of their last 27.
Had both teams won or lost, they would have had to face off in a one game playoff to determine who would advance, much like the situation with the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays happening simultaneously.
Now the Braves head to an off season filled with what-ifs, "I can't fathom it. The Cardinals took care of business," said rookie first basemen Freddie Freeman who ended the game by grounding into a double play.
Part of the blame can be put on the shoulders of Atlanta's rookie closer, Craig Kimbrel.
The young closer was pitching at an un-hittable rate all year, but faltered down the stretch blowing saves in three of his last seven opportunities and giving up six runs in his last 7 2/3 innings.
Atlanta suffered the National League's biggest meltdown since the 2007 Mets who had a 17 game lead with seven games to go but blew it when they lost 12 out of 17 to end the season and watch the Phillies advance and ultimately win the World Series.
