Atlanta showers Braves' All-Stars with love at city's 1st Midsummer Classic in a quarter-century

ATLANTA -- This has been one of the most disappointing seasons the Braves have had over the past few decades. But with the baseball world watching over the past few days, the Atlanta fans still proved to be quite enthusiastic as they showered their favorite players with love.

“I’m grateful and happy to all the fans who came out here and supported all of us,” Ronald Acuña Jr. said through an interpreter on a night when the National League defeated the American League, 7-6, in MLB’s All-Star Game. “I think I have to rank this as one of the greatest experiences of my career.”

It was certainly a unique experience for each of the Braves' All-Stars -- Acuña, Matt Olson and Chris Sale. Not only did they get the chance to play in their home park as Atlanta hosted its first All-Star Game since 2000, but the hometown favorites can also say they were part of the first Midsummer Classic that ended with a home run-hitting tiebreaker.

“It was fun,” Olson said. “Hopefully, the fans thought the same.”

With the game tied, 6-6, through nine innings, a new tiebreaker process was put in place in which three hitters from each league were selected to take three swings each. Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber homered with each of his three swings, and the NL won the swing-off, 4-3.

The hometown crowd booed when it was learned Olson wasn’t going to be one of the three NL players used in the tiebreaker. But Olson said he didn’t necessarily mind, given he had taken a bunch of swings during Monday night’s Home Run Derby.

“Maybe my obliques right now are thanking me,” Olson said.

This was an incredibly special few days for Olson, a lifetime Atlanta resident who attended the 2000 Home Run Derby and then just happened to participate in the next one staged in his hometown. The rousing ovation he received before that event was even greater than the strong one he and Chris Sale received as they were announced with the NL reserves before Tuesday’s game.

Fans also showed Max Fried love as he wore his Yankees uniform and experienced his first All-Star Game since ending his great Braves tenure this past winter. And Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman had to fight back some tears as he did an in-stadium interview before the first pitch. Freeman was serenaded with the FRED-dee, FRED-dee chants that regularly rang throughout this same stadium before his Atlanta tenure ended with the 2021 World Series title.

“I think that’s just the fans that we have here,” Olson said. “They appreciate Braves players and they appreciate good baseball.”

These fans definitely appreciated Acuña, who heard a roar when his name was announced during pregame introductions. A short time later, he tallied an infield single and scored from first base on Ketel Marte's double to the right-field corner.

“For me, it’s a privilege to put on this Braves uniform,” Acuña said. “I’d like to do it for the rest of my career.”

Olson’s All-Star Game experience was highlighted by a run-saving stop he made on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. hot shot just before the AL tied the game in the ninth. He struck out looking in his only plate appearance.

Now, the Braves will look forward to what the second half might bring. But even with the team 11 games under .500 and down four starting pitchers with 67 games remaining, Olson hasn’t lost hope.

“We believe that people are going to try to count us out immediately,” Olson said. “We've opened that door for people to say that. But we’ve got expanded playoffs and all you’ve got to do is get in advance and see what happens.”