Braves Today

The Atlanta Braves secure National League home field advantage by walking off the Chicago Cubs

Marcell Ozuna launched a game-tying homer in the 9th, followed by Ozzie Albies' game-winning single in the 10th inning

Lindsay Crosby

The Atlanta Braves enjoy playing at home, and the National League's path to the World Series now runs through Truist Park. 

Trailing by a single run in the 9th inning, designated hitter Marcell Ozuna tied the game with a 3-0 homer to left-center field. Cubs pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. threw a "get-me-over" 91 mph middle-middle fastball, and Ozuna made him pay for it. 

(413 feet, coming off the bat at 111.6 mph, if you were curious)

The very next hitter, centerfielder Michael Harris II, doubled on a line drive to right field and a wild pitch advanced him to 3rd with only one out, but two ground outs got new Cubs pitcher Jose Cuas out of it with the winning run stranded on 3rd. 

In extra innings, the Cubs used two sacrifice flies to score their "ghost runner" from 2nd to take a 5-4 lead. 

In the home half of the 10th, Kevin Pillar was the "Manfred Man" at 2nd with the Braves needing one run to tie and two to win. After an Orlando Arcia sacrifice moved him to 3rd, Ronald Acuña Jr drove him in to tie the game at 5. 

And then Ozzie Albies came to bat.  

The Braves 2nd baseman laced the first pitch he saw into right field at 107.8 mph, giving Ronald Acuña Jr just enough time to race around the bases and slide into home just ahead of throw for the winning run.

With the win, the Braves have secured home field advantage all the way through the National League postseason, and are just a single win (or Orioles loss) away from securing home field for the World Series. 

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Lindsay Crosby
LINDSAY CROSBY

Managing Editor for Braves Today and the 2023 IBWAA Prospects/Minors Writer of the Year. You can reach him at contact@bravestoday.com

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