Travis d’Arnaud, Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves. (Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports)
Travis d’Arnaud has found his home as the Atlanta Braves’ starting catcher.
In Travis d’Arnaud‘s first year with the Atlanta Braves, he just gave us his signature moment.
The former blue-chip prospect of the Toronto Blue Jays and longtime New York Mets backstop had never lived up to the hype as a big leaguer. However, he has been a marvelous addition to this juggernaut Braves team. With his team needing a big hit in Game 1 of the 2020 NLDS vs. the division rival Miami Marlins, d’Arnaud went yard to give the Braves a 7-4 lead late in the ballgame.
Atlanta’s big seventh inning may be the reason it takes Game 1 over Miami.
The Braves were trailing Miami 4-3 entering the seventh inning. Ace pitcher Max Fried didn’t have this best stuff on the mound, but after Ronald Acuña Jr. got beaned in his second at-bat, the sleeping giant was awakened. Atlanta plated six runs in the bottom of the seventh, including Marcell Ozuna‘s base knock, d’Arnaud’s three-run bomb and Dansby Swanson‘s two-run shot.
If Atlanta holds on to this five-run lead, the Braves will take Game 1 over the rival Marlins in a best-of-five series over in neutral-site Houston. Though all four League Division Series feature division rivals, the first game between Atlanta and the Fish certainly lived up to the hype. These teams are playing great ball, but only one of them will be able to advance for a second time.
It will be a team effort to win, but d’Arnaud’s homer is what we will keep talking about.