As Braves continue to sink, frustrations rising to the surface

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, July 6, 2015, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Frustrations are bubbling over for the Atlanta Braves as they muddle through a stretch in which the team has barely been competitive.

The Braves saw their losing streak reach nine games with a 15-1 beating at the hands of the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. Not only is Atlanta losing but the bigger concern is, in the words of first baseman Freddie Freeman, "getting manhandled every single night."

The Braves have been outscored by a staggering 82-20 margin during the skid and have won only once in their last 17 games. Three of the past seven defeats have come by double-digit margins.

"As a professional baseball player, that's not what you want," Freeman said. "You don't come to the yard every day expecting to lose by 14, 15 runs every single day."

While a punchless offense has failed to produce more than three runs on seven occasions during the nine-game drought, manager Fredi Gonzalez is directing his ire at a pitching staff that has compiled a woeful 8.55 ERA in that span.

"They'll figure it out sooner or later, but the stuff we've been seeing is really unacceptable," Gonzalez said. "These guys are professionals. They're major leaguers. ... For them to get hit around like that is unacceptable."

(h/t MLB.com)