SAN DIEGO -- Still riding the high created by the game-tying homer and game-winning single he produced in a 10-8 victory over the Padres on Saturday night, Braves outfielder
Every win is big this time of year for a postseason contender like the Braves, who maintained their National League East lead at 1 1/2 games and cut the magic number to clinch the division to seven. But this may indeed have been Atlanta’s biggest win to date, simply because the team was one out away from it possibly being an influential loss.\n\n“That might have been one of the guttiest games I’ve ever seen a team play,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It kind of defines who these guys are and what they’re all about.”
Trailing by a run with two outs in the ninth inning, the Braves were staring at the possibility of being just a half-game in front of the second-place Phillies, who had already won in Pittsburgh. But
How much do the Braves respect Soler? Well, they began this week by making the unexpected decision to put him in the leadoff role. They were impressed with the plate discipline he had shown since being acquired. At the same time, they knew he had that quick strike power he displayed with the game-tying, three-run homer off Nabil Crismatt in the sixth inning.\n\nThat was Soler’s 25th homer of the season and the 12th he has tallied over 50 games for the Braves. If the Braves end up winning a fourth consecutive division crown, this mood-altering blast might also be regarded as one of Atlanta’s most important homers of the season.\n\n“It was a huge win, especially because it felt like we were playing behind the whole entire game,” Soler said. “We just kept overcoming the deficits and kept battling back.”
Soler’s contribution created what proved to be short-lived tie. Caratini’s one-out single in the bottom of the sixth gave the Padres a lead and extended the woes of Chris Martin, who is no longer the dominant reliever he was the past two seasons. San Diego kept that lead until Rosario delivered in the ninth and set the stage for Soler in the 10th.\n\nAfter Orlando Arcia drew a five-pitch walk to put two on with one out in the 10th, Soler ripped his go-ahead double to left field. The automatic runner, Travis d’Arnaud, scored, and Arcia advanced to third base. Arcia then scored on
“There’s always 27 outs to be played, and nothing is ever written in stone until that 27th out is recorded,” Soler said. “\\[Opponents\\] can score at any moment, but the same thing can be said about us. We can score runs at any time.”\n\nSoler’s contributions lessened the impact of starting pitcher