The Atlanta Braves had their home opener last night, and got the win in dramatic fashion. After going back and forth with the Padres all night, it was a tie ball game in the bottom of the ninth and newly extended Orlando Arcia hit a line drive into right center field to bring home Eddie Rosario and secure the home opening win for the Atlanta Braves in walk-off fashion. Our own Braves insider Grant McAuley joined The Morning Shift earlier today and gave his thoughts on the Braves walk-off win.
Grant starts things off by talking about how the game felt like a few different games saying “The Braves game last night felt like a couple of different games, because early on you got Spencer Strider doing his thing, he makes a mistake, the Padres move ahead, the Braves comeback, the Padres go ahead, the Braves comeback again, and finally the Padres it seemed like maybe were going to grab one late in the late innings against this Braves bullpen, but that was not the case.”
Then, Grant talks about how he was really impressed by the approach of the Braves in the late innings that helped them complete the comeback saying “I think it was a great job of approach at the plate by the Braves. I mean this wasn’t hitting home runs left and right, this was a lot of great two-strike hitting, a lot of great hitting with runners in scoring position, opposite field hits galore for Travis d’Arnaud knocking in I believe the tying run.”
Grant finishes his thought by saying “Also, Matt Olson with an opposite field double. Orlando Arcia who ended up walking it off in the ninth inning, he had a opposite field hit, it just seemed like the Braves were doing everything, using the whole field, and really just showing that they’re more than just a home run hitting club, and that’s I think one of the things that great clubs do they find a way to win, and the Braves found another way last night.”
The Braves showed their versatility last night, and proved they don’t need the home run ball to score a lot of runs. Also, the Braves showed just how deep their lineup is last night as well. Orlando Arcia, the hitter in the nine hole, hit a solo home run, and had the walk-off RBI single last night for the Braves.
If the Braves continue to show they can come up with big hits in big situations, and if they keep getting the production they have been getting from the bottom of their lineup to start the season, the only thing that will stop the Braves from winning another World Series Championship is the injury bug.