On a night the Braves honored one of the more unconventional pitchers of our generation, John Smoltz, the club won what has the weirdest game of the season. Atlanta went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, did not hit a home run and scored on a balk, walk and stolen base.
Hey, this is why we love baseball.
With the score tied 303 in the bottom of the 10th, Jason Heyward led off the inning with an infield single that chopped off the plate. Jack Wilson came on to pinch-hit and bunted Heyward over to second base.
On a 1-0 pitch to Andrelton Simmons, Heyward took off for third and had the base stolen easily. Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia threw wildly to the bag, sending the ball into left field. J-Hey popped back up and sprinted home to score the winning run, turning Turner Field into a madhouse.
The Braves have now won their last five games and are 7-1 since their eight-game losing streak.
Atlanta scored first on a bases loaded walk to Dan Uggla in the third, and then scored another run on a balk in the sixth Heyward also drove in a run with an RBI-double to the right-center field gap in the sixth, as well.
It was a wild night for the Braves, but they figured out a way to get it done against a tough team. These are the nights that make the long season just that much better.
For more on the Bravos check out Talking Chop.