Atlanta Braves Make MLB History

It’s tough to write your name in the history books on any given day but on the Opening Day of 2014, the Atlanta Braves make history.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, Ryan Braun hits a dribbler to Braves third baseman Chris Johnson.  Johnson double pumps while Braun hustles down the base line.  A bang-bang play at first base, the first base umpire, Greg Gibson, calls Braun safe.

Mar 31, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) tries to beat the throw to Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) in the sixth inning of an opening day baseball game at Miller Park. Braun was ruled safe but the call was reversed after umpires reviewed instant replay. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Fredi Gonzalez immediately comes running out of the dugout towards Gibson.  After a little discussion on the field, they decided to challenge the call.

Many looks and a couple different angles, the head umpire calls Braun out.

“They got the play right, that’s the bottom line,” Gonzalez said after the game.  “It’s a process that they are looking at two to three years of working through the kinks and today, at the end of the day they got the play right.”

Fredi must have tremendous eye sight or has great hearing because this play was close.  Either way, the Braves were the first team to win a MLB challenge during the regular season.

“You know what, I think at the end it did,” when Gonzalez was asked about the replay system.  “It sure felt like I was out there for 15 minutes, before the night is over I’m going to put a clock on it to see how long it took.”

Only a couple minutes apart, the Chicago Cubs decided to challenge a play during their game.

Jeff Samardzija thought he was safe at first after a bunt and Cubs manager Rick Renteria thought so too.  It was the Cubs who called for the first official challenge under MLB new replay rules.  And, typical Cubs fashion, it was the Cubs who lost the first challenge in MLB history.

Though the Braves weren’t the first to call a challenge, they were the first to win a challenge.

The Braves do lose to the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 in a game that the offense did not show up to.  Julio Teheran pitched well but came out with the L.

Braves look for their first win of the season tomorrow night at 8:10pm when Alex Wood takes the mound.