Pillar makes most of alternative with clutch homer

ATLANTA — Kevin Pillar turned what had the makings to be a irritating loss into an enthusiastic victory.

As for Marcell Ozuna, he could have created a chance to proceed being part of what has the makings to be a particular Braves season.

Ozuna homered for the fourth time in 4 days, and Pillar got here off the bench to hit a go-ahead eighth-inning homer that gave the Braves a 5-4 win over the Orioles on Saturday night time at Truist Park. Adding to the importance of this comeback victory was the very fact this was Pillar’s a centesimal homer.

“I know a hundred is insignificant to a lot of people,” Pillar stated. “You think about the greats and how many home runs they have hit. But for a kid who was drafted in the 32nd round who never thought he would be in the big leagues 10 years later, a hundred — you know I’ve never been a big home run guy — maybe speaks to some consistency.”

Pillar has made an affect since he arrived at Spring Training as a non-roster invitee for the Braves, who personal the National League’s greatest report regardless of splitting the 16 residence video games performed to this point. This is a membership that might get a lot better as soon as catcher Travis d’Arnaud and shortstop Orlando Arcia return from the injured record within the close to future.

Every week in the past, it appeared d’Arnaud’s return from a concussion may spell the top of Ozuna’s tenure in Atlanta. But Ozuna has raised his OPS from .444 to .648 whereas hitting 4 homers over his previous 16 plate appearances. His most up-to-date was a homer to start the underside of the third towards Orioles starter Kyle Bradish.

Even if this surprising energy surge proves to be false hope, Ozuna has purchased himself sufficient time to stay with the membership as soon as d’Arnaud returns to function a delegated hitter and share the catching duties with Sean Murphy. If d’Arnaud is bodily able to catching frequently, the possible transfer now could be to possibility backup catcher Chadwick Tromp.

The Braves is also lower than two weeks from the return of Arcia, who has change into much more beloved because it has change into extra obvious Vaughn Grissom isn’t able to be a giant league shortstop. Grissom’s sixth error in 19 video games led to the Orioles claiming a sixth-inning lead they might hold till Pillar’s homer off left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe.

“[Pillar] has been awesome to have, with his professionalism and how he stays ready,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “He’s done really well for us.”

Pillar has been used as an on a regular basis participant all through most of his profession, however he was begrudgingly saved on the Triple-A degree throughout most of final 12 months’s injury-plagued season with the Dodgers. He signed with the Braves understanding he would wish to win a roster spot in Spring Training after which fill a bench function.

It’s a difficult spot, however one he was able to deal with as he noticed the lefty Coulombe begin to get unfastened within the bullpen. Two innings earlier, Snitker had caught with a lefty-lefty matchup when the Orioles introduced Cionel Pérez in to face Eddie Rosario.

“When the lefty faced Rosario, I kind of thought my day was over,” Pillar stated. “But when I saw the lefty in the bullpen [in the eighth], we [Snitker and I] kind of made eye contact, I took my sweatshirt off, went and kind of found my stuff and was just hoping to get that opportunity.”

Pillar checked out a slider out of the zone after which belted an almost center-cut fastball over the left-field wall. The two-run drive was his second profession pinch-hit homer. His solely earlier one was a game-tying seventh-inning solo residence run for the Mets in a win over the Phillies on June 26, 2021.

“My parents were in town in New York, and I had played the day before and didn’t have a very good game,” Pillar stated. “They asked if I was in the lineup, I said, ‘No.’ So, they stayed home and sure enough.”

Pillar’s mother and father additionally weren’t current for this newest pinch-hit homer. But he nonetheless obtained quite a lot of love from a clubhouse that has shortly come to like what he brings to the park each day.

“He’s a terrific teammate,” Braves beginning pitcher Spencer Strider stated. “He just kind of personifies baseball to me. I’m really glad that he’s with us. When he gets these opportunities, you know he’s gonna lay it all on the line, whether it’s at the plate or in the field. He came up big for us today.”