Atlanta Braves: Dansby Swanson stays hot with walk-off

After Arodys  Vizcaino blew the 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Dansby Swanson singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 4-3.

The 2018 version of the Atlanta Braves had the propensity to make things dramatic in the later innings, and this year’s club took a page out of that playbook Sunday afternoon.

Dansby Swanson hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth, which gave the Braves a 3-2 lead.

Behind Sean Newcomb, that lead lasted until the ninth inning when Curtis Granderson hit a game-tying solo home run to right field off Arodys Vizcaino.

That’s back-to-back shaky outings for Vizcaino, who was fortunate to escape a bases-loaded jam in Friday’s 4-0 win.

Add this to A.J. Minter’s poor outing Saturday night and (insert Craig Kimbrel GIF here).

I have spent more time on the bullpen over the past few months than any sane person should, so let me digress.

Freddie Freeman got the Braves on the board first with an opposite field two-run home run in the first inning. It was Freeman’s first homer of the season.

The Marlins answered right back in the top of the second with an RBI-infield single from the pitcher Caleb Smith and a bases-loaded walk by Miguel Rojas.

Newcomb settled down after that, allowing just one base runner over his final four frames.

In the bottom of the ninth, Freeman reached on an infield single, Ronald Acuna reached on catcher’s interference and Nick Markakis walked, which set up Swanson’s game-winning hit.

Considering how downtrodden we all were after last weekend, it was a great bounce-back week for the Atlanta Braves, going 5-1, as they head to Colorado tomorrow.

Not spectacular, but certainly very solid

After the second inning, I’m guessing there were many Atlanta Braves fans clamoring for the eventual call up of Mike Soroka, after his impressive performance in Gwinnett last night.

But I will give it to Newcomb, he located better from innings three to seven, including impressive strikeouts of Brian Anderson in the fifth and Starlin Castro in the sixth.

With as easy as Newcomb’s delivery is, it’s fascinating to me how much he struggles with command.

Yet, he walked in a runner in the second inning and it seemed he labored to find the zone.

Who knows if Newcomb will be a top-of-the-rotation starter, but a middle-of-the-rotation starter seems like his destiny and there is nothing wrong with that.

More from Tomahawk Take

• Atlanta Braves Mailbag: New Year’s Edition
• Braves News: Atlanta makes a pair of trades, prospect debuts, more
• Atlanta Braves History: How the Red Stockings became the Braves
• Braves News: Atlanta Braves acquire Eli White from the Texas Rangers
• Atlanta Braves Swing Trade with the New York Yankees for Lucas Luetge

It’s hard not to get pumped about Dansby

After reading David O’Brien’s story on The Athletic about Swanson meeting with Chipper Jones (due to pay wall restrictions, I can’t dive too deep) I am convinced Swanson will turn the corner this year and be an above average or better hitter.

The one tidbit I can share with you about the story, that was mentioned on the broadcast today, was Chipper’s insistence on Swanson telling him what kind of hitter he can be.

I think we have seen the answer from Swanson.

He’s going to be a guy who sprays it all over the field and when given the chance, will turn on one and put it in the seats.

I get it, the date is April 7, but there has never been this kind of optimism about Swanson, but am I the only one who feels this is a different kind of optimism?

Stay grounded, folks

Much like I said last Sunday after the Phillies swept the Braves, everybody just needs to relax and focus one game at a time.

I get caught up in the moments, too.

The wins are awesome and the losses stink.

But this team is good and can be perhaps more with some additions (insert second Kimbrel GIF here).