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Atlanta Braves: 3 takeaways from comeback win over the Cardinals in Game 3

By Clint Manry

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 09: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 09, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 09: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 09, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

1. The late-inning work continues

There’s a reason I listed the Atlanta Braves ability to score runs in the late innings as one of the most important reasons the team could win a World Series in 2019. It’s a skill that sure does come in handy, especially in games like the one the Braves won on Sunday.

In the final week of the 2019 regular season, the Braves led the majors in late-innings batting average, home runs OPS and on-base percentage… and those were just a few traditional stats that I happened to look at a week ago — I’m sure there’s more.

Get this, in innings 1-7 on Sunday, the Braves never sent more than four batters to the plate (granted, a lot of that had to do with Wainwright); in the 8th, the Braves sent five to the dish; and in the 9th, eight Braves’ hitters took a hack.

Now, the actual number of hitters gettinf at-bats each inning is irrelevant, but the fact that the number increases after the 7th inning — when the game is of utmost importance — is significant. This is what they’ve been doing all year!

Except, on Sunday it wasn’t the Braves top four hitters who carried the team on their back. It was the latter portion of the lineup this time… and if that doesn’t get you excited than I don’t know what will.

Yes, No. 4 hitter Josh Donaldson started it, slapping a double to left in the 9th, but Dansby Swanson and Adam Duvall finished it — with Duvall trading places with Swanson after his 2-run single.

https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1180985013304807424?s=19

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We can’t expect the offense to come through like this every game. That would just be unreasonable. But this lineup has built up a reputation now, a expectation that… no matter what, this team is still in it.

As I alluded to above, seeing the back end of this Braves’ lineup win pushing the Braves ahead is the real cause for excitement.

Guys like Swanson, Duvall, Joyce, Hechavarría, Markakis and McCann maybe aren’t there to necessarily be the run producers, but production from them sure does help.

Freddie Freeman and the top guys aren’t always going to carry the team. On Sunday: Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Freddie and Donaldson combined to go 3-for-15 — with Acuna and Freddie going 0-for-7 with 2 strikeouts.

Overall, the Braves only managed 7 hits as a team, but the point remains: the bottom portion of the lineup can make a huge difference… as witnessed on a beautiful October Sunday night in St. Louis.

The Atlanta Braves are ONE win away from treating themselves to the next battle: the National League pennant and a chance at a World Championship.

Next. Braves stun Cards in game 3. dark

What were your takeaways from Sunday’s Game 3 win over the Cardinals? Let us know in the comments.

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