After another dismal offensive showing, the Atlanta Braves' offense roared to life in the ninth inning. Sean Murphy walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Stuart Fairchild with Eli White heading to the plate. A strikeout left Atlanta down to their final two outs and set the stage for a struggling Michael Harris. The Atlanta outfielder delivered a game-tying double that would force an extra frame. While it was only one hit, the moment felt far bigger.
Not only did it set the stage for Marcell Ozuna's game-winner one inning later, it pulled the Braves a game below .500 for the first time since the season's second game. Perhaps more importantly, it signaled life from the bat of Atlanta's center fielder. It was a moment the outfielder badly needed after looking so incredibly lost in the first weeks of the season.
Michael Harris Gives Braves Fans a Reason to Believe He Has Finally Arrived
Harris is still hitting only .215 on the season and hasn't offered anything close to quality at-bats consistently. The ninth-inning moment didn't feel to be a player simply running into a ball in a clutch moment, but a significant strike that should serve as a corner turn for the center fielder.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker unquestionably sent Harris a message dropping the outfielder to 8th in the lineup. Hitting between Eli White and Nick Allen should serve as a clear indication of how little trust Harris has earned in recent weeks. With that said, Atlanta's 2-1 series win over the Reds appeared to be a significant moment that Atlanta can only hope has breathed life back into the bat of the center fielder.
Harris wasn't the only cornerstone player who appeared to turn the corner on Tuesday night, with veteran Chris Sale throwing his best game of the season. After dealing with early struggles, this is the second straight start where there has been an uptick in velocity and production from Atlanta's ace. It is a much-needed boost as the team continues to await the return of Spencer Strider.
The Braves now sit at 17-18, climbing back to third in the National League East, appearing to finally be turning into the team fans have been expecting to see since Opening Day.