The Atlanta Braves still haven’t lost a series this season. They are 22-9 and the best team in baseball after getting a game-winning two-run home run from Matt Olson in the ninth inning.
I didn’t think it was going out,” said Olson after the game. “That thing kept floating for me.”
Olson hit the game-winner off the Detroit Tigers closer, a future Hall of Fame player, Kenley Jansen. Ozzie Albies had walked to begin the ninth inning, and a few minutes later, Olson was meeting the rest of the Braves at home plate as 30,000 Braves fans (OK, there were Tigers fans in the stadium, too) cheered.
The walk-off home run was Olson’s first as a Brave and his fourth overall. He hit three game-winning home runs for the Oakland A’s before moving to Atlanta.
“That’s a good one right there. We’ve had a few of those already, so that’s a good sign,” said first-year Braves manager Walt Weiss of another late-inning celebration.
The Braves came into the game with an 11-5 record at Truist Park. It was also the second career start for Braves right-handed rookie JR Ritchie. It was also Chris Sale bobble-card night.
The Atlanta Braves got started early on Thursday when Ozzie Albies, fresh off a two-run home run in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s win over the Tigers, hit another two-run home run. This time, his dinger to left field came off one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball: Detroit Tigers All-Star and Cy Young award winner, Tarik Skubal.
The Braves’ offense would immediately cool as Skubal righted the ship and got to work on what would be a seven-inning, five-hit, six-strikeout, two-earned gem of a start.
The Tigers didn’t waste any time getting Skubal those earned runs back. In fact, they got his three runs to work with after two innings. Detroit first baseman Kevin McGonigle drove in the first run on a double to center. With two on and two outs, Ritchie was charged with an error and an unearned run after his pick-off throw to first base got past Matt Olson. With the game tied at two in the third inning, Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (-03 with a walk on Tuesday) hit a solo home run to give Detroit its first lead of the series at 3-2.
During Ritchie’s first start, there were clear signs of brilliance. The same could be said for Wednesday night when he got himself out of one of two two-on/two-out jams. Ritchie would go 5.1 with two earned runs and four strikeouts before leaving the game and being replaced by Dylan Lee. On his way to the dugout, Rictchie received a loud ovation.
Up Next: Bryce Elder will start his seventh game of the season. Elder is 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA this season.
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