Day games haven’t exactly been the Braves’ strong suit in 2022 averaging just under four runs per game in the sunshine, but Atlanta’s bats woke up in time for this afternoon’s 14-2 rout of the Pirates.
Already leading 9-0 in the 8th inning, Braves 1B Matt Olson stepped to the dish with the bases loaded and sent the second pitch of the day from Cam Vieavux into the Allegheny River—becoming the 45th player to deposit a baseball in the body of water behind PNC Park and the first-ever Brave to do so.
Olson just missed a home run in the 2nd inning, instead ending up on second base with his 39th double of the year. He certainly got all of his grand slam—the fifth of his MLB career—sending it 420 feet with an exit velocity of 112.7 mph.
In his first season with the Braves, Olson is batting .250 with 26 home runs and 87 RBI—tied for 5th in baseball.