Braves 1B Matt Olson hit a home run ball into the Allegheny River last week against the Pirates. The ball was just found.
The Atlanta Braves absolutely destroyed the Pittsburgh Pirates last week in a three-game sweep last week in a series that was not surprising whatsoever. The Braves are the reigning World Series champions and are well on their way to the playoffs this year. The Pirates are on pace for yet another 100-loss season. If they stay on pace for it, it will be their third straight season of a 100-loss pace (including the 60-game 2020 season).
In the series finale last Wednesday, the Braves completely crushed the Pirates 14-2. In that game, Braves first baseman Matt Olson hit a 420-foot grand slam into the Allegheny River. On Tuesday, the ball was finally found.
Braves: Matt Olson’s grand slam ball was just found
Pittsburgh River Rescue found Braves first baseman Matt Olson’s grand slam home run ball on Tuesday, according to WPXI, Pittsburgh’s NBC station. He hit it off left-handed reliever Cam Vieaux last Wednesday to make the game a 12-0 game at the time. Atlanta eventually won the game 14-2.
Matt Olson is having a great year for Atlanta as that was his 27th home run on the season. On the year, the Georgia native who just signed an eight-year deal with the team with a club option for a ninth year has hit .252/.336/.495 with 27 home runs, 87 RBI, 41 doubles, and an OPS+ of 127. His doubles are second and home runs are fourth in the National League entering play on Wednesday.
Vieaux, on the other hand, is a 28-year-old rookie who, like nearly all of the Pirates, has struggled. In eight appearances in the majors for the Pirates, the left-hander has an ERA of 10.38. In just 8.2 innings of work, he has already allowed two home runs, including the one to Olson.
As WPXI noted, “Pittsburgh Public Safety said the Braves can reach out to them to claim the baseball” so, perhaps, Olson will want the ball from his fifth career grand slam.