In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday night, one defining story was ill-advised baserunning, with the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor thrown out after trying to go first to third on a single to right field. In Game 2 Sunday night, a defining story was aggressive baserunning (and coaching) that paid off for the Braves. Atlanta entered the inning down 4-2, but scored two runs there to tie the game, and both of those came thanks to aggressive baserunning. First, Eddie Rosario advanced from first to second on a fly to left:
Rosario then scored on an Ozzie Albies single, thanks to a risky send from third-base coach Ron Washington and a beautiful slide:
Here’s a better look at that slide (also seen at top):
And, not long after that, Albies came home on another aggressive Washington send following a hit from Austin Riley, with a good slide there helping make it so catcher Will Smith couldn’t field the ball successfully:
Braves with a play at the plate clinic tonight pic.twitter.com/8wcoZAj2uK
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 18, 2021
If any of these plays had gone slightly differently, the Braves would have been pilloried for risky baserunning. But they pulled it off here, and tied the game as a result.
[@TalkinBaseball on Twitter; photo from @SBNation on Twitter]