ATLANTA _ It was an uncharacteristic sequence that consummated the Braves' season.
Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig popped a ball into right field. Braves defenders Nick Markakis and Ozzie Albies pursued, only to see the ball drop between them.
A batter later, David Freese pushed one beyond the reach of shortstop Charlie Culberson, scoring two runs, leading to natural wonders if Dansby Swanson could've stopped the ball from reaching the outfield.
The Braves made the Dodgers sweat, batting back after losing the first two games, but their season _ still an extraordinary success _ ceased with a 6-2 loss in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Monday.
Down a run, the Braves brought in rookie gem Chad Sobotka to keep the game manageable in the seventh. Justin Turner singled, Max Muncy walked and Manny Machado _ the biggest acquisition of July's trade deadline _ tattooed a ball into the left-field seats, sucking the life out of SunTrust Park and unofficially sending the Braves to the offseason.
After allowing the fewest home runs in the NL through the regular season, the Braves were decimated by the long ball against a burly Dodgers lineup. Los Angeles scored 14 of its 20 runs via homers. The Braves hit two _ courtesy of Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna in Game 3 _ the entire series.
Just before the Dodgers' outburst, the Braves' misspent their best situation in the fifth. Freeman singled, Markakis walked and Johan Camargo reached on a Machado fielding error. They loaded the bases with one out, already leading 2-1.
Tyler Flowers popped out to fellow catcher Yasmani Grandal in foul territory. Ender Inciarte popped out to Machado. Of the many times the Braves left players stranded, none will sting more than the fruitless fifth.
Mike Foltynewicz, pitching on short rest for the first time in 2018, somewhat avenged his mediocre Game 1. He went four innings, holding the Dodgers to a run, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter.
Following a Muncy walk, Machado ripped a double for a first-inning lead. Foltynewicz settled in from there, throwing three more frames and holding the Dodgers to a run. His only dent was made by a Machado double after walking Max Muncy in the first.
Manager Brian Snitker lifted him for pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki in the fourth, concluding the fireballer's day at 64 pitches. Foltynewicz has been pivotal in the Braves' return to the postseason, and barring a significant rotation addition, should be the team's opening-day starter in 2019.
Suzuki's pinch-hit appeared paramount in a contest when both teams had struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Camargo and Flowers walked to start the inning, positioning the Braves to take advantage of Rich Hill, who didn't see much adversity in the first three innings.
Inciarte bunted the runners over before Culberson grounded out to third, forcing the Braves to pull Foltynewicz for Suzuki. The catcher's two-out single to left scored Camargo and Flowers, putting the Braves ahead.
The defense let down the much-maligned Braves bullpen. Markakis and Albies' communication error proved disastrous. Freese's hit would've been a hard play for anybody, but it's natural to wonder if the currently injured Swanson could've halted the ball, which could've kept the score at 2.
In a last-minute attempt to rally, Inciarte and Culberson knocked back-to-back two-out hits. Slugger Lucas Duda pinch-hit, demolishing a ball to right field that turned foul. He ultimately flew out to center.
Perhaps the Machado homer resonates through the offseason, but it shouldn't. The Braves' 2018 season was a resounding success, conquering any reasonable expectations and fortifying a foundation. Several players took steps forward. They won their division and, in the face of elimination, pushed the defending NL champs.
There's an active winter ahead for the Braves, who will have ample spending room and are expected to dip into the higher-caliber players pool, both in free agency and the trade market. The core remains mostly intact, with Markakis and Suzuki the key expiring deals.
Be it a few tweaks or a splash move, the Braves' next task is to transition into "real" contender status. This season, despite ending sooner than they would've liked, properly ushered them into a new era.
