The Atlanta Braves were struggling badly before Ozzie Albies stepped up. The team had lost 10 of their last 16 games and averaged only 2.9 runs per game. That all changed on Tuesday night at Truist Park. A two-out single by Albies off Tanner Scott in the eighth inning secured a 4-3 victory for the team over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This win was a huge relief for a roster that has not had a fun month. In the National League East, the Phillies trail the Braves by a minimum of 3 1/2 games, a lead secured through a Braves victory. It also brings them within three games of the Dodgers. This gap is vital for the race to get the NL’s second-best record and skip the Wild Card round.
The Eighth Inning Heroics
Matt Olson set the stage for the big moment. Per MLB.com Braves, Olson hit a leadoff double in the eighth inning. This put him in a great spot to score. When Albies drove the ball to center field, Olson crossed the plate to give the Braves the lead.
The pitching staff also had a tough night. Bryce Elder gave up eight hits, though all of them were singles. He also allowed three runs during his six innings of work. In the ninth, Raisel Iglesias had to deal with a lead-off triple by Shohei Ohtani. Luckily, the closer escaped the inning without letting the Dodgers tie the game.
Aggressive Early Scoring
The Braves started strong against Tyler Glasnow. The Dodgers pitcher was making his first start since a back issue from over three months ago. The Braves put up three runs in the first inning. Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Mauricio Dubón, and Michael Harris II all recorded singles before Glasnow got two outs.
There was a big moment involving a call by home-plate umpire Edwin Jimenez. According to MLB.com, the umpire determined Mike Yastrzemski fouled a 3-1 pitch during the first inning. Replays showed the ball missed the bat. This ruling stopped Michael Harris II from scoring another run in that opening frame.
The lineup looked very different for this game. Battery Power noted that the Braves used alternating handedness to avoid having left-handed batters back-to-back. Mauricio Dubón even moved into the cleanup spot. The team now heads into a stretch of games against the Rockies, Giants, and Nationals before facing tough opponents like the Cubs and Rays.
