Can one eighth inning hit save an entire baseball season? Hyperbolic as that question may sound, Marcell Ozuna's game-tying hit in the series opening thriller against the Mets may have done exactly that. It has been said over and over again how challenging the 2025 season has been for the Atlanta Braves, but last night was a much needed breath of fresh air.
Tuesday night's game against their NL East rival felt like many of the same frustrating losses Braves fans have watched this season through the games first seven innings. Then the Big Bear provided a jolt in a clutch spot late in the game with the bases loaded. Ozuna's two-out double cleared the bases and brought the Braves back from the dead. It had Truist Park rocking, and set the stage for Austin Riley produce a walk-off sac fly in extra innings. It was a much needed win for Atlanta, but can they capitalize on the momentum?
Marcell Ozuna clears the bases and the @Braves tie it!
— MLB (@MLB) June 18, 2025
Atlanta is ROCKING 🔊 pic.twitter.com/TtotOU0BR7
Ozuna gifts the Braves new life, but the offense has to follow suit for the remainder of the series
The Big Bear has been battling a hip issue most of the season, but when the Braves needed him most he delivered. One win isn't going to drastically flip the Braves postseason odds, but it could give them the spark they need to turn their season around as they enter this crucial June stretch.
Ozuna's double was one of the most clutch hits for the Braves all season. In fact, Fangraphs gave that Ozuna double a .446 win probability added (WPA), which would rank as the fourth highest mark this season. Even more impressive is the fact that the base knock came off stud reliever Reed Garrett of the Mets. Garrett entered last night with a miniscule 0.95 ERA and 2.82 FIP. He was firing in 99 mph sinkers, and fall off the table splitters before Ozuna got one he could handle and tied the game up with two outs.
The energy that hit provided not only the ballpark, but the Braves dugout as well was pretty evident. For a team that needed a clutch hit in largest of ways, Ozuna may have just got the monkey off the back for the whole lineup.
Hopefully, some other Braves hitters can have a moment or two of their own and get some confidence at the plate for the remainder of the season. Additionally, the Braves could have a much deeper lineup in just a couple weeks when Jurickson Profar makes his return. Profar began his rehab assignment with Gwinnett last night and reached base three times.
Now it's up to Atlanta to ride that wave of momentum and pounce on a reeling Mets team. Ace Chris Sale takes the hill tomorrow aiming to do just that, as Atlanta's offense looks cook against Paul Blackburn who will be making his second start of the season.