Drake Baldwin delivers walk-off hit in wacky Braves win over Reds in 11 innings

In what was one of the wilder games of the 2025 season, the Braves mounted a comeback in the 9th inning and walked it off in the 11th by way of a 5-4 score to take three out of four from the Reds.

In the 11th, there were two runners on, two outs, and two strikes as rookie Drake Baldwin stepped in against veteran lefty Taylor Rogers. Baldwin fouled off a couple of tough pitches to stay alive and then smoke a fastball at the top of the zone past the diving third baseman and score Ozzie Albies to win it.

The unsung hero of the night: Scott Blewett, who did anything but. The righty tossed perfect 10th and 11th innings to keep the score tied until Baldwin could send them home. An enormous tip of the cap to Blewett, who’s done a nice job since coming over from Baltimore.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Braves found some magic down by two runs. And boy did they need it after another frustrating night at the plate. Ozzie Albies walked, Sean Murphy smacked a single, and Eli White bunted in a run and advanced pinch-runner Eddie Rosario to second.

Michael Harris, the hero two nights ago, then inside-outed a weak grounder perfectly past the shortstop to score Rosario and tie the game. Harris would wind up on third on an errant throw, but Baldwin struck out and Alex Verdugo grounded out weakly to keep the score tied at 4-4.

In the top of the 9th, with the score tied 2-2, Raisel Iglesias hung a cement-mixer-so-bad-your-grandmother-could-hit-it slider in the middle of the zone on an 0-2 pitch that Rece Hinds smoked over the left field wall to make it 4-2. Iglesias shook off whatever pitch Sean Murphy called for previously and then hung it.

Coming off the worst stretch of his big league career, Spencer Schwellenbach looked much more like himself on Thursday night. He worked six innings and allowed just one run on five hits and two walks. He struck out six. Hopefully, this is a big step in the right direction in getting his season back on track.

It feels like an eternity ago, but the Braves struck in the first inning by way of an Austin Riley double, Marcell Ozuna single and Matt Olson sac fly. That would be it for the club offensively for a while, though, as the lineup continued to struggle this week.

The Reds evened things up in the fifth on a Jose Trevino RBI double, although Schwellenbach did a nice job limiting the damage from there. Atlanta responded in the bottom half with a bunt single by way of Eli White and an RBI triple from Michael Harris to re-take the lead.

In the sixth, it seemed like things were going sideways for Schwellenbach as he put runners on the corners with just one out. The former college shortstop induced a terrific 1-4-3 double play to escape the jam.

Rafael Montero entered the seventh with a one-run lead and promptly gave it up. Two walks and a double loaded the bases, which brought Dylan Lee into the game. Lee gave up a single to TJ Friedl to tie it at 2-2, but a massive pair of strikeouts kept the bases loaded and score tied. A tip of the cap to Lee for cleaning that mess up and keeping Atlanta in the game.

Atlanta is 18-19.

The Braves continue their NL Central tour with a road trip to face the Pirates for a three-game series that begins Friday night. The Pirates just fired manager Derek Shelton on Thursday after a dismal 12-26 start and have been downright awful in the early going. It will be Bryce Elder against TBA at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Related Posts

🚨BREAKING: Braves and Chris Sale make Opening Day history—an unforgettable performance that instantly sends a message to the entire league. This is more than a win, it’s a statement that Atlanta has arrived with something to prove.

Getty ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MARCH 27: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after pitching against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning of the…

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Red Sox vs Reds today—don’t miss a single moment as Boston looks to stay hot and Cincinnati fights to respond at home. First pitch is set, the tension is rising, and this showdown could swing momentum early in the season.

RED SOX VS REDS SHOWDOWN SET FOR SATURDAY AS SONNY GRAY MAKES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED BOSTON DEBUT The 2026 MLB season is already gaining momentum, and the upcoming…

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Red Sox quietly pull off a win with the Brendan Rodgers deal—no noise, no hype, just a move that could change everything behind the scenes. Sometimes the biggest impact comes from the quietest decisions.

RED SOX QUIETLY SECURE HIGH-UPSIDE DEPTH WITH BRENDAN RODGERS DEAL DESPITE INJURY SETBACK In a move that may not dominate headlines but carries long-term strategic value, the…

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Camilo Doval looks absolutely dominant as he locks down the Yankees’ setup role—power, control, and confidence all coming together at the perfect time. This surge could quietly become the backbone of New York’s bullpen.

When the Yankees traded for Camilo Doval from the Giants last year, they expected the closer to transition into a setup role as part of a deep,…

🚨BREAKING: Every move Cubs made in their $488M winter—from Alex Bregman to Nico Hoerner—signals a bold new era built on ambition, risk, and a hunger to win it all. Chicago didn’t just spend big, they sent a message the league can’t ignore.

The Chicago Cubs have been unaffectionately seen as penny-pinchers by their fan base. Not anymore. As the Cubs started the 2026 season on Thursday, news of Nico…

UNBELIEVABLE 👀 A $7M, 3-time All-Star and fan favorite is on the verge of making franchise history on Opening Day for the Atlanta Braves, adding another chapter to an already iconic run.

Ozzie Albies Set to Make Braves History on Opening Day After $7M Decision Pays Off The Atlanta Braves are entering the 2026 season with familiar expectations—contend, compete,…