Less than 24 hours after the Braves were held to one hit over two games in a doubleheader sweep, they scored four times in the first inning — and then kept scoring — in a 8-7 win over the Cubs at Truist Park.
And the dark feelings of Sunday have subsided (for now).
Here are five takeaways from Monday:
1. The Braves had a better first inning than the entire 14 innings they played Sunday, when Diamondbacks starters Zac Gallen and Madison Bumgarner pitched consecutive shutouts (the latter being a no-hitter).
Sunday’s doubleheader: The Braves had one hit, four baserunners and no runs. Monday’s first inning: The Braves had four hits, six baserunners and four runs.
“It was nice to get those four runs in the first inning to calm everyone down,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We played a good ballgame. The bats came alive.”
Before tonight's game, @LieutenantDans7 was burning sage in the outfield.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 26, 2021
Then the @Braves scored 4 runs in the first 😅
(via @BravesOnBally)pic.twitter.com/uEnw5uo7q3
2. Before the game, shortstop Dansby Swanson burned sage in the outfield. For those curious, per WebMD: “Native Americans and other indigenous peoples have burned sage for centuries as part of a spiritual ritual to cleanse a person or space, and to promote healing and wisdom.”
The purifying ritual sure didn’t hurt Swanson or his team. He blasted his second homer and had his first multi-hit game since April 15. The Braves’ eight runs were their most since scoring 13 in a win over the Cubs April 18.
“All year, I’ve been like, ‘Hey y’all, if it gets to a point, I’m bringing some sage in here,’ ” Swanson said. “I think yesterday was finally that point. I pretty much walked every bit of area in this place. It was fun. ... I might have to bring some tomorrow, too.”
Freeman added: “(Swanson) told me he was going to do it yesterday if he could find some. I walked into the clubhouse today and it smelled like sage. I made sure to tell him to get to our game bats. They’re in a shopping cart locked away, so we made sure to get to those. I think he hit every part of the ballpark. I don’t know if that works, but it’s more a mental thing and fun thing to try to forget about yesterday. The good thing about yesterday is the only way we could go is up. That was a good thing for us chemistry wise.”
3. Freeman, who preached calmness and patience after Sunday’s mess, led the way. He started the first-inning fireworks with a walk against Cubs starter Zach Davies. Marcell Ozuna followed with a double, his second extra-base hit of the season. Ozzie Albies’ single scored the first run. Travis d’Arnaud singled home two more runs.
Two hitters later, Austin Riley walked. Guillermo Heredia doubled in d’Arnaud. Just like that, the Braves exorcised their demons from the day prior.
4. Chicago’s Kris Bryant blasted a game-tying grand slam off Charlie Morton in the third. The Braves responded. Swanson hit a homer to make it 5-4. After Chicago tied it again, Freeman smashed a go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the fifth off Cubs reliever Brandon Workman. It was Freeman’s sixth homer of the season and first since April 18.
5. Davies also seems to be a cure to what ails the Braves’ offense. They’ve faced him twice, tagging him for nine earned runs on 13 hits in just 7-2/3 innings. Of course, he has an 8.80 ERA in five outings, so it’s not just the Braves giving him a hard time right now.
Stat of the game
4 (The Braves scored four runs in the first inning, immediately moving past the doubleheader.)
Quotable
“If it works, we’ll do it again. (Maybe) I’ll plant some of it.” - manager Brian Snitker on his first experience with burning sage
Up next
The Braves and Cubs continue their series Tuesday when Ian Anderson faces Trevor Williams. Anderson is coming off one of the better starts of his young career, pitching 6-2/3 scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium.
