ATLANTA -- Braves catcher Drake Baldwin didn’t play for most of Thursday’s series finale against the Reds, but the rookie certainly had a big impact when he got into the game.
Baldwin, who came in as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth, hit a walk-off single in the 11th to give Atlanta a series-clinching 5-4 win over the Reds on Thursday at Truist Park.
It was Baldwin’s first career walk-off hit, as he drove in placed runner Ozzie Albies from third with a line drive into left field.
After closer Raisel Iglesias gave up a go-ahead, two-run home run to Rece Hinds in the top of the ninth, Atlanta stormed back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, featuring an Eli White RBI sacrifice bunt and a Michael Harris II game-tying single. Baldwin had his first chance to give the Braves a win when Harris reached third on a Gavin Lux throwing error, but he struck out swinging.
Baldwin did not miss his second chance.
“It was awesome,” Baldwin said. “It’s something you dream about, getting a chance to be up at the plate with a guy in scoring position and getting it done makes it a lot better as well. Especially after the chance earlier in the game with the guy at third and not getting it done. That definitely feels really good to move past. I’m happy with my adjustments and getting it done there.”
It was no easy task for the left-handed-hitting Baldwin, who was up against lefty reliever Taylor Rogers. Rogers entered the game with a 1.50 ERA through 15 games.
Baldwin took a 2-2 sinker that was up in the zone and shot it the other way. Prior to the sinker up, Baldwin fouled off a down-and-away sweeper to stay alive.
“The scouting report [said] he likes to backdoor that sinker and it keeps coming across,” Baldwin said. “Then there’s a big, slow sweeper that feels like it never gets there and kind of talking to players before, that’s what they were saying as well. The sweeper has to start at you. … I don’t know how I fought off that one down, but I was lucky to get a bat on it, and he left a sinker more over the plate, and [I stayed] within myself and [got] it through the infield.”
It was Baldwin’s first at-bat against Rogers and he had to rely on the scouting report and his teammates.
“It feels like I almost had an at-bat against him with how Matt [Olson and Harris] came up to me right before that at-bat and talked about what he liked to do when they faced him before, how he attacked them and his strengths,” Baldwin said. “They helped me a ton. They made me feel more comfortable going into that at-bat.”
Baldwin said getting an at-bat and a couple of innings under his belt before the game-winner paid dividends.
“Everyone [who has done it] gets a weird feeling coming off the bench and right into the game to get a pinch-hit opportunity,” Baldwin said. “Getting that first at-bat and getting into the flow of the game -- I know it was high-pressure situations there -- and getting behind the plate and catching [reliever Scott] Blewett just gets you more into the flow. You don’t feel like you’re pinch-hitting anymore. It feels like you were part of the game the whole time.”
Prior to the walk-off, Baldwin ended the top of the 11th when he caught Blake Dunn attempting to steal second base.
“That was huge,” Baldwin said. “I knew he was looking like he was going to [steal]. I give a lot of credit to Blewett as well, going to the plate and he threw a good fastball in a good spot for me to throw him out. It worked out well with Ozzie getting the tag down.”
“It was great, he won the game for us.” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Baldwin’s 11th inning. “[Dunn] is really fast. [Baldwin] got rid of that ball really [well]. Ozzie made a great tag and [Baldwin got] a big hit. That’s a pretty good night for not starting.”