Evan Gattis’ bases-loaded walk was a sign.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was encouraged by the catcher’s eighth-inning at-bat in Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Padres. He saw it as a positive step in Gattis returning to the form he showed before a back injury landed him on the disabled list.
“I thought the at-bat last night could turn into some good at-bats here in the next few days and maybe longer,” Gonzalez said.
Trailing 5-1, the Braves loaded the bases with two outs as Freddie Freeman singled and Justin Upton and Jason Heyward followed with walks.
Gattis came to the plate as the tying with just one hit in 10 at-bats after being activated from the disabled list Monday.
His at-bat went like this:
* Swinging strike
* Ball in the dirt
* Foul
* Ball
* Ball
* Foul
* Ball in the dirt
Two foul balls and two balls in the dirt, including ball four that forced in run, were important, Gonzalez said.
“It was a pressure-packed at-bat,” Gonzalez said. “He was the tying run. He can hit the ball out of the ball park and tie it. That was a good at-bat by him. He stayed patient. He battled. He fouled some balls off. He laid off some tough pitches, which is good to see.”
The manager said when players are struggling they expand the strike zone and swing at bad pitches. Gattis did neither.
Gattis missed 17 games with a bulging thoracic disk. He is hitting .278 with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs in 67 games this season.
Even with the disabled list stint and the time to work back into form, he ranks third among catchers and 12th in the National League with 16 home runs. He is sixth in the National League and tied for ninth in baseball with 10 game-winning RBIs.
Gattis did go 0-for-3 Friday. However, he started the game by grounding out twice, once into a double play, and striking out. The walk was just one at-bat - one that Gonzalez believes will lead to bigger things.
“Hopefully, that at-bat will propel him into some good games,” Gonzalez said.
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