"It just didn't work out"
There was logic behind Blake Butera's decision to pull Jake Irvin, but the rookie manager opened himself up to second-guessing for the first time
In his 23rd game as a major-league manager, Blake Butera confronted his first real in-game decision that warranted significant second-guessing.
The scenario: Top of the sixth, the Nationals leading the Braves by the score of 3-2. Jake Irvin had cruised through his first three perfect innings on a scant 34 pitches, and though the right-hander’s next two frames weren’t as dominant, he still entered the sixth with a very modest pitch count of 60.
But after No. 9 batter Mike Yastrzemski reached on Nasim Nuñez’s throwing error, and after Irvin hit Ronald Acuña Jr. with a pitch for the second time in the game, Butera decided not to let his starter go any further.
With Atlanta’s top two left-handed hitters (Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson) coming up to bat in a close game, the rookie manager walked to the mound and took the ball from Irvin despite the fact he had thrown only 68 total pitches to that point. He summoned left-hander PJ Poulin from the bullpen and hoped the favorable matchup would pay off.
It did not. Poulin immediately let both runners advance on what was initially scored a wild pitch but later changed to a passed ball on Drew Millas. Then he served up a two-run double to Baldwin that turned a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 deficit. He retired Olson on a flyball that took James Wood all the way to the base of the wall in right field, then walked Austin Riley, at which point Butera walked to the mound again and signaled for Brad Lord.
Lord gave up an RBI single to Ozzie Albies and an RBI single to Michael Harris II, then botched a potential 1-6-3 double play with a wide throw to second on Dominic Smith’s easy comebacker, then watched as shortstop CJ Abrams booted Jorge Mateo’s grounder up the middle to complete a disastrous inning that saw the Braves score five runs and completely flip the game (an eventual 9-4 victory) in their favor.
“Just not our best baseball,” Abrams said. “Had some plays in the infield that should’ve been made, had some chances to capitalize runs. … It’s tough. A couple of plays that should’ve been made.”
Butera didn’t have to conjure up a questionable explanation for his quick hook of Irvin. His answer was rooted in sound logic.
