Atlanta Braves fans were treated to a thrilling end to Tuesday’s extra innings win over the Reds. Pitching put on an impressive show and kept the Reds scoreless through eight innings.
Cincinnati put up the game’s first run in the top of the eighth, and it appeared the Braves were headed for a disappointing loss.
However, a gutsy decision in the bottom of the ninth inning helped ensure that didn’t happen. Sean Murphy coaxed a walk to start the inning, and Stuart Fairchild was called on to pinch run against his former team.
A moment of hesitation and a deranged send allowed the Braves to salvage a win
This decision proved to be a difference maker for Atlanta. With one out, Michael Harris II laced a splitter into right field, and Fairchild was off to the races.
It looked like the Braves would have runners at second and third with a chance to tie. Third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo had other plans and surprised everyone, including the Reds, by sending Fairchild home.
His decision to send the runner caused a brief moment of hesitation from Cincinnati second baseman Matt McClain in getting the ball to home plate.
By the time he realized what was happening and made the throw, it was too late.
Outfielder Jake Fraley making the cut-off throw to second instead of to the first baseman for some reason helped the cause as well.
That, coupled with McClain’s hesitation, is all the Braves needed to get themselves back in the game.
Fairchild’s speed is a key reason he remains on Atlanta’s roster, and he used that speed to get revenge on a team that DFA’d him before eventually trading him to the Braves.
Braves insider Justin Toscano spoke with Tuiasosopo after the game, he mentioned having a gut feeling that influenced his decision to send the runner. Fairchild running hard also didn’t make the decision very hard.
He stated, “Once I saw the throw go toward second and they didn’t set up to come home at all, I saw the ball’s flight going toward second, I just said, ‘Let’s go.’
Just one of those gut feels where I just felt like we had a chance with where they were throwing the ball and how hard Stu was running, that he (could score).”
It was an extremely risky decision, but with the Braves’ troubles with runners in scoring position, it was worth it. Luckily, the Reds misplayed the situation and allowed Atlanta to tie things up. Marcell Ozuna then sent everyone home happy with a walk-off single in the 10th.
