The Braves pulled off another dramatic win in extra innings thanks to some rough pitching from the Reds and a clutch at-bat from a young hitter. Reds pitcher Hughes gave up a leadoff walk in the tenth, then allowed a bunt that moved the runner to second. Another bunt followed and turned into an infield single, loading the bases with no outs. That was enough for the Reds to pull Hughes, who had zero success in the inning. Atlanta brought in rookie Stephenson, who leaned heavily on his slider. He struck out Cole Burson, but with two outs and the winning run still on third, a young Braves hitter stepped in.
Stephenson threw him four straight sliders. The kid battled, fouled one off, then finally got a pitch he could handle and slapped a walk-off single. The team flooded the field. Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann led the celebration with their usual veteran moves, including a solo clap and some casual old-man energy. Josh Donaldson high-fived everyone in sight while the mascot waved a massive team flag. The show’s final moment came with a delayed but solid Gatorade dunk to finish the party. Good game, chaotic finish, and the Braves keep rolling.