Brian McCann walks off despite the Marlins strategic brilliance, a breakdown
What Happened
The Atlanta Braves are hosting the Miami Marlins in a close game, with the score knotted at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman leads off the inning with a double off the wall and the Marlins elect to intentionally walk Josh Donaldson to set up a force play. Veteran outfielder Nick Markakis then works a tough 3-2 count before lacing a single to right field, moving the runners to second and third. Braves catcher Brian McCann steps to the plate with no outs, facing a Marlins defense that has shifted to include five infielders and only two outfielders. Marlins manager Don Mattingly appears confident in this strategic move, but McCann calmly pokes the first pitch he sees into right field, scoring the winning run and giving the Braves a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory. "That was heavy," exclaims one of the announcers, as McCann's teammates swarm him in celebration. Outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and infielder Johan Camargo join in the festivities, dousing McCann with water bottles as he tries to remove his jersey. McCann takes it all in stride, flashing a big smile as the Braves revel in the exciting finish. The win caps a back-and-forth contest that saw the Braves erase a 4-1 Marlins lead late. Freeman and Donaldson were key contributors, while McCann's heroics in the ninth inning proved to be the difference. "I never noticed that whole high-five on the right side," one announcer remarks, commenting on an amusing moment during the celebration. This walk-off victory marks Brian McCann's second game-winning hit of the season for the Braves, delighting the home crowd and continuing Atlanta's strong start to the year. Despite the Marlins' best efforts to neutralize McCann with their unorthodox defensive alignment, the veteran catcher remained calm and came through in the clutch, securing the dramatic win for his team.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentthe Braves walked off versus Miami last
week Freddie Freeman comes up with no
outs bottom ninth gets a hold of that
one thinks he's got it throws the tongue
out for fun it's off-the-wall it's not a
home run but it is a leadoff double and
then they walk Donaldson intentionally
walk Donaldson to get the force out and
here comes the big at-bat we got
fastball fastball low off-speed and the
rest it's fast balls good at-bat by
Markakis get some they're gonna miss
here it's a 3-2 his teammate says listen
I believe in you the team believes in
you but do you believe in yourself
that's the question oh my god that was
heavy uh-oh no in play does he do it he
does but he gets the out at first and
now there's no force again so they
intentionally walked
young thick Austin Riley he gets on base
to face old man Brian McCann and
Mattingly's gonna have some fun he
brings in an outfielder to have him play
in field five infielders now two
outfielders there we go this is gonna
work McCann's watching them like nothing
that you're doing matters at all
this is silly Mattingly walks off the
mound like oh man I'm so smart this is
definitely not gonna work but hey we're
having fun there it is there's the setup
for McCann first pitch fastball outside
just pokes it right over there and the
Braves win so much for strategy all
those intentional walks five infielders
there you go Ozzy's off over the rail
they're selling oh my god I never
noticed that whole I never noticed this
when I was adding it look at this high
five on the right side might be the most
white-hot look at his eye I didn't
notice that while editing that's funny
all right McCann comes in and they got
the water bottles a little Running Man
from McCann their water bottles getting
emptied he's running away trying to get
the shirt off and then a it comes
in with the Gatorade and it's a pretty
good pour gets him well he runs away
doesn't get the whole thing but he got
wet good Java Cunha and then Camargo and
someone else come and get him again
later on who this one is brought to you
by coverage gear.com go to coverage gear
comm use discount code Bret
get you 10% off there's probably maybe
they got a Brian McCann hat that's his
second walk-off on the season so you can
go celebrate that