Ozzie Albies’ walk-off homer gives Braves share of first place

Albies was looking for a fastball in a 2-1 count. He received an elevated one from Sims, whom Albies played with in the Braves’ minor-league system.

“That’s a great feeling, especially because the Phillies are losing and we won this game,” Albies said. “This game was important for us. … The team is rolling. Everybody is feeding off each other right now. Anything we can do to help each other, if it’s a walk, hit by pitch, just get on base so we can score runs and get the win.”

2. Indeed, the Phillies lost 8-2 to the Dodgers. The Braves are tied for first place in the National League East for the first time since April 29. Once 7-1/2 games back and dealing with myriad injuries, they’ve roared back into pole position, where they’ve finished the past three seasons.

Wednesday secured the Braves’ third consecutive series win. They swept the Cardinals in St. Louis, took two of three from the Nationals and have an opportunity to sweep the Reds Thursday.

Their turnaround has been swift: They were five games back on July 28. They erased the deficit in 12 games.

“It’s enjoyable when you’re winning and you know you’re fighting for first place in the division,” Albies said. “Every one counts from then on. There’s not a lot of season left, so you just have to keep going.”

Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

3. It was a roller-coaster night. The Braves lost a five-run lead, capped by Will Smith hitting Nick Castellanos with a pitch and surrendering Joey Votto’s game-tying two-run homer in the ninth. It was Smith’s second blown save in his last three chances.

“I thought Will threw the ball better than he did yesterday,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I like his stuff a lot. The biggest thing was when he hit Castellanos. Stuff-wise, I thought it was good today.”

When asked whether Smith’s recent performance could lead the team to consider other closer options, Snitker didn’t indicate his confidence was shaken.

“Like I said, I thought he threw the ball well today. He had the one pitch. I’m sure Votto’s faced him a lot. That’s a pretty good hitter he gave up that homer to. That’s going to happen, too. I was watching Craig (Kimbrel) the other day and he gave up one. He’s a Hall of Famer. It happens.”

4. The Braves’ revamped offense punished Reds lefty Wade Miley, who entered the night with a 2.75 ERA across 20 starts. Miley was tagged for five runs in his first three innings. He had allowed more than four runs in only one prior start this season, and that game was in Colorado. Miley had six consecutive starts allowing three or fewer runs, posting a 2.06 ERA in that time, before Wednesday. The Braves are 15-6 in the last 21 games they faced a left-handed starter.

5. Outfielder Guillermo Heredia, hitting eighth, swatted a 433-foot two-run homer off Miley to make it 3-2 in the second. It was Heredia’s first homer since June 25, a span of 38 games.

Heredia has been bumped into a reserve role since the Braves added multiple outfielders last month, but his previous success against Miley prompted Snitker to put him in the lineup. Heredia was 4-for-6 with two doubles against Miley.

Stat to know

59-55 (The Braves are a season-high four games over .500 and tied for the NL East lead.)

Quotable

“You can’t win the division tomorrow but it’s good to be where we’re at. We’re relevant. We’re playing meaningful games. Hopefully we continue to do that.” - Snitker

Welcome back

Catcher Travis d’Arnaud made his first start since May 1. D’Arnaud missed 86 games after tearing a ligament in his left thumb. He started and hit seventh, going 1-for-4 with a walk.

Up next

Kyle Muller (2-3, 2.88) will start the series finale for the Braves against Reds righty Vladimir Gutierrez (7-3, 4.15) at 5:10 p.m. on Thursday.