Atlanta Braves unlikely heroes come through big

Feels Good To Win A Close One

So many times throughout a baseball season, teams and players look back and say ‘what if we would have had a hit here’ and ‘what if I would not have swung at that pitch for the third strike’ and ‘what if I would have decided to stay at third base rather than try to make it home and get thrown out at the plate’.

These decisions made throughout the games can become the difference between winning and losing a close game and ultimately the difference between making it to the postseason.  But, when a team and player make the right decision, or do not swing at a bad pitch and take a walk instead, or getting that clutch hit, the ultimate prize could end up winning the close game that originally looked out of reach.  The Atlanta Braves did just that on Sunday at home after a ninth inning rally to tie the game and then a walk off win in the eleventh inning against the Miami Marlins to come away with a 10-8 victory.

Unlikely Guys Come Up Big

Looking at the recap and box score from the game, it might be the big name of Freddie Freeman, or Nick Markakis, whose names are the ones that put the Braves in for the tie and then the lead.  However, instead it is the names of Rio Ruiz and Lane Adams who got the Gatorade poured on their heads.

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Ruiz, who has only played in thirty-nine games this season for the Braves, is hitting only .207 and has an on base percentage of .287, but, with the pressure on in the bottom of the ninth and two outs, with the Braves down by two runs, Ruiz singles in two runs to tie the game.  Ruiz had already struck out once in the game and only had fourteen RBI’s on the season, so for his bat to come through, it was a minor shock to many Braves’ fans.

Then, with the potential Lane Adams has shown, he ran for Matt Adams in the fifth inning and knocked that two-run shot in the eleventh.  Lane Adams, only playing in sixty-eight games for the Braves and having eleven RBI’s entering the game, fans surely thought Dansby Swanson would have been the guy to end the game if it was going to come in the eleventh.  But, Swanson, who was on deck, didn’t even need to come to the plate thanks to Adams.

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Ruiz and Adams might be the unlikely heroes now, but these names could play a big part next season.  Hopefully, some of the magic that came through on Sunday, is seen a lot more next season.