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The Atlanta Braves have spent the better part of the last three weeks searching for offense in just about every way except the one that has defined this era of baseball in Atlanta. That changed Friday night.
After the Braves hit four home runs in a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets, manager Walt Weiss wasn't celebrating an unusual stat line as much as he was recognizing something he believes has always been part of this club's DNA.
"We all love homers and we're capable of doing that," Weiss said postgame, via Braves Vision. "It's been part of our identity here for a long time."
That comment carried a little more weight considering where Atlanta's offense had been entering the series.
The Braves had gone 10 consecutive games without producing even a two-homer game. Dating back to June 9, Atlanta had hit just 14 home runs during a 5-14 stretch, the fewest in Major League Baseball over that span. The power outage stood out because it represented such a dramatic departure from the offense that has fueled the Braves throughout much of their run atop the National League.
Even after that drought, Atlanta still ranks sixth among National League clubs with 108 home runs.
"You don't want to depend on [home runs], but it's definitely part of our identity," Matt Olson said, via MLB.com's Mark Bowman. "We hadn't left the yard a ton as of late."
Atlanta finished with only five hits, yet four of them cleared the fence. This marked the first time in franchise history the Braves have hit four home runs while collecting five hits or fewer. It was also their sixth game with at least four home runs this season and improved them to 26-5 when they hit multiple homers and 11-1 when they hit at least three. Olson helped drive that turnaround himself.
The veteran first baseman entered the night without a home run over his previous 16 games before connecting twice, giving him 22 on the season and putting him back on pace for 41 home runs.
"Putting a couple swings on some pitches that you feel like you can hit and barrel them up and see them leave is definitely a confidence boost," Olson told reporters.
And it wasn't just Olson. Michael Harris II hit his first home run since June 13 after going 96 at-bats with only one long ball, while Ozzie Albies continued to provide one of the few consistent power threats during Atlanta's recent offensive slowdown, launching his fifth homer since June 1.
Weiss acknowledged every lineup wants to score in different ways. Manufacturing runs, putting pressure on defenses and taking advantage of opportunities all remain important parts of winning baseball. But he also understands what this roster has been built to do over the last several seasons.
"You want to be as multidimensional as you can," Weiss pointed out, via Braves Vision.
For one night, the Braves didn't have to search for another offensive formula. They rediscovered the power that has carried the franchise through years of success. Friday served as a reminder that Atlanta's identity may have been quiet, but it never disappeared.
Continue reading...
After the Braves hit four home runs in a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets, manager Walt Weiss wasn't celebrating an unusual stat line as much as he was recognizing something he believes has always been part of this club's DNA.
"We all love homers and we're capable of doing that," Weiss said postgame, via Braves Vision. "It's been part of our identity here for a long time."
That comment carried a little more weight considering where Atlanta's offense had been entering the series.
The Braves had gone 10 consecutive games without producing even a two-homer game. Dating back to June 9, Atlanta had hit just 14 home runs during a 5-14 stretch, the fewest in Major League Baseball over that span. The power outage stood out because it represented such a dramatic departure from the offense that has fueled the Braves throughout much of their run atop the National League.
Even after that drought, Atlanta still ranks sixth among National League clubs with 108 home runs.
"You don't want to depend on [home runs], but it's definitely part of our identity," Matt Olson said, via MLB.com's Mark Bowman. "We hadn't left the yard a ton as of late."
Atlanta finished with only five hits, yet four of them cleared the fence. This marked the first time in franchise history the Braves have hit four home runs while collecting five hits or fewer. It was also their sixth game with at least four home runs this season and improved them to 26-5 when they hit multiple homers and 11-1 when they hit at least three. Olson helped drive that turnaround himself.
The veteran first baseman entered the night without a home run over his previous 16 games before connecting twice, giving him 22 on the season and putting him back on pace for 41 home runs.
"Putting a couple swings on some pitches that you feel like you can hit and barrel them up and see them leave is definitely a confidence boost," Olson told reporters.
And it wasn't just Olson. Michael Harris II hit his first home run since June 13 after going 96 at-bats with only one long ball, while Ozzie Albies continued to provide one of the few consistent power threats during Atlanta's recent offensive slowdown, launching his fifth homer since June 1.
Weiss acknowledged every lineup wants to score in different ways. Manufacturing runs, putting pressure on defenses and taking advantage of opportunities all remain important parts of winning baseball. But he also understands what this roster has been built to do over the last several seasons.
"You want to be as multidimensional as you can," Weiss pointed out, via Braves Vision.
For one night, the Braves didn't have to search for another offensive formula. They rediscovered the power that has carried the franchise through years of success. Friday served as a reminder that Atlanta's identity may have been quiet, but it never disappeared.
Continue reading...
