Braves status: 85–60, exactly 4 games ahead after Tampa Bay’s four-homer ambush

The Braves came home with a four-game NL East lead and immediately absorbed a 7–1 loss to Tampa Bay. The Rays did most of the damage in the most obvious way possible: four home runs.

Junior Caminero hit a 455-foot solo homer, his 39th of the season. Liam Hicks added a two-run shot, and Yandy Díaz and Richie Palacios homered later. Atlanta starter AJ Smith-Shawver lasted 3⅓ innings and allowed four runs.

The result dropped Atlanta to 85–60. The important standings break is that Philadelphia also lost, 6–5 to Houston. That leaves the Braves exactly four games ahead of the Phillies in the NL East.

That is why a September loss can be annoying without being a crisis. The race is measured against the pursuer, not against perfection. When both teams lose, Atlanta spends one more date on the calendar without surrendering any of its cushion.

The Braves and Rays play again tonight at 7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park. MLB lists the game on MLB Network, BravesVision and Rays coverage.

Wake Up will keep this section deliberately disciplined: exact games ahead or behind, latest result and next game. Today’s number is 4.0 games ahead.