Was This the Hit That Could Save the Braves’ Season? It Just Might Be
Is it possible that a single eighth-inning hit could breathe life into an entire season? It may sound like an exaggeration, but Marcell Ozuna’s clutch double in Tuesday night’s thriller against the Mets could be exactly that for the Atlanta Braves. After enduring a rocky and disappointing start to 2025, the Braves desperately needed a moment to believe in — and they may have just found it.
Through seven innings, the game looked like another frustrating chapter in a season full of them — quiet bats, missed chances, and a sense of déjà vu for Atlanta fans. Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, Ozuna stepped up and delivered. His three-run double tied the game and sent a jolt of electricity through Truist Park, paving the way for Austin Riley’s walk-off sacrifice fly in extras. It wasn’t just a win — it felt like a spark that could change the team’s trajectory.
Ozuna has battled a nagging hip injury for most of the year, but that didn’t stop him from coming through in the biggest moment. The numbers back it up too — Fangraphs credited the hit with a .446 Win Probability Added (WPA), the fourth-highest for any Braves player this season. Even more impressive? It came off Mets reliever Reed Garrett, who entered the game with a stellar 0.95 ERA and overpowering stuff. To deliver under that kind of pressure makes the hit even more impactful.
That momentum was impossible to ignore — fans erupted, players in the dugout fed off the energy, and the whole stadium seemed to come alive. It felt like a weight had been lifted off the lineup’s shoulders — one that had been building for weeks of missed opportunities.
Now the Braves have a chance to turn one thrilling win into something more. Jurickson Profar is close to rejoining the lineup after a promising rehab appearance in Gwinnett, and Chris Sale is set to take the mound in the next matchup. With the Mets on the ropes and Paul Blackburn making just his second start, Atlanta has an opportunity to seize the momentum and finally get their season back on track.
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