The Braves' remarkable run of series wins to open the 2026 season has finally hit a wall. After taking 10 of their first 11 series and splitting the other, Atlanta dropped Wednesday's rubber match in Seattle, falling 3-1 to the Mariners in a game defined by a surprisingly flat offensive performance.
It was only a matter of time before this happened, but the timing couldn't have been worse for a team that had been rolling. After blowing a lead in Monday's loss and pulling off a dramatic ninth-inning win Tuesday courtesy of Matt Olson's home run, the bats went quiet when it mattered most. The series finale marked the end of the Braves' series-winning streak during the longest road trip of their season.
The culprit? Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, who looked like a completely different pitcher than the one who had been shelled for 13 runs and six home runs over his previous two starts. Woo (2-2) was nearly untouchable, allowing just three baserunners—one hit and two walks—while striking out nine over six dominant innings.
Mauricio Dubon's two-out single in the fourth inning was the Braves' only hit off Woo, preventing what would have been their first hitless start through four innings this season. The lone silver lining? Atlanta's hitters fouled off enough pitches to run up Woo's count and chase him after six frames.
On the mound, Martín Pérez (2-2) kept the game within reach, giving the offense every chance to awaken. He allowed two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. The only blemish came on a hanging 3-1 changeup that Julio Rodríguez crushed to center field for a home run—a tough break for a pitcher who otherwise delivered a solid outing.
The Braves finally broke through in the eighth inning against Eduard Bazardo, putting runners on the corners with no outs on back-to-back singles and scoring their lone run on a Dominic Smith sacrifice fly. But any hope of a rally vanished when pinch runner Jorge Mateo was picked off first base—a costly mistake that loomed even larger when Drake Baldwin followed with a single that would have put Mateo in scoring position with one out.
For a team that has made a habit of winning series, this one stings. But even the best lineups have off days, and the Braves will look to bounce back as they continue their marathon road trip.