Confidence has Braves feeling 'dangerous' after walk-off win

ATLANTA -- Braves fans got to watch Travis d'Arnaud dent the left-field wall with the walk-off single that ended a 6-5, 10-inning win over the D-backs on Friday night at Truist Park. But we might never know what he said to Matt Olson to possibly fuel the rally that resulted in Atlanta’s latest walk-off win in a home opener.

“In the ninth inning, I made fun of [Olson] before he got his big double,” d’Arnaud said. “I don’t know if that loosened him up or made him angry. I don’t know what it did. But I know our team chemistry is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”

Resilient has been a fitting description for the Braves, who have now claimed three walk-off wins while going 7-1 in home openers at Truist Park.

“I’m getting kind of used to it with these guys,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

So, what did d’Arnaud say?

“Everything he says goes in one ear and out the other,” Olson said.

“It wasn’t PG,” d’Arnaud said after some prodding.

Whatever was said, it certainly didn’t hurt. This is a close-knit team that enjoys the comedy Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia create with their constant banter. d’Arnaud might not be as loud or lively, but his sarcastic wit does help the Braves stay loose.

“I think it’s part chemistry and part not a lot of panic,” Olson said.

The postgame excitement was tempered when Braves players learned Spencer Strider will undergo an MRI on his right elbow on Saturday morning. After allowing five runs and striking out just four over four innings, Strider told the medical staff his elbow was bothering him.

Olson’s third-inning home run served as Atlanta’s top highlight until Ronald Acuña Jr. cut the deficit to two runs with an eighth-inning RBI double. Suddenly, The Chop got a little louder and there was a sense this home opener might also have a magical ending.

“It was packed tonight,” said Jarred Kelenic. “The energy was great. I think I’ll never get sick of The Chop. That’s such an iconic thing. Even the guys in the dugout were talking about it. It’s just unreal. I’m just extremely happy to be here and to be able to help out.”

This was a memorable first home game experience for Kelenic, who was acquired from the Mariners in December. With the D-backs starting a left-hander, he remained on the bench until he was needed during what became an eventful ninth.

Austin Riley reached to begin the bottom of the ninth when his soft bouncer eluded shortstop Blaze Alexander. Olson followed with an RBI double and then aggressively moved to third base on a Marcell Ozuna groundout to the left side.

One out. Ninth inning. Tying run on third base. Prime opportunity for Kelenic to get his first home plate appearance with his new team, right?

It proved to be when Kelenic’s opposite-field blooper fell between Alexander and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in shallow left field. Olson scored the game-tying run in uncontested fashion.

“He gets the game-tying double,” d’Arnaud said. “That’s pretty big for him and pretty big for us.”

Kelenic has expressed his appreciation for being with Atlanta going back to January’s Braves Fest. His first experience with the home crowd just added to his appreciation for his new home.

“It feels like we’re never out of it,” Kelenic said. “It just feels like such a team environment in here. I feel like we’re just so dangerous on both sides of the ball. It’s just a fun group to be around.”

The late-inning offensive heroics wouldn’t have been possible had the bullpen not delivered six scoreless innings. Pierce Johnson stranded the automatic runner with the help of two strikeouts in the 10th. Joe Jiménez, Aaron Bummer and Raisel Iglesias all contributed a scoreless inning. As for Jesse Chavez he just did what he has consistently done in Atlanta.

Chavez helped the Braves beat the Phillies after Max Fried was chased in the first inning of his season debut last weekend. Once Strider exited this series opener, the 40-year-old reliever altered the tide with two scoreless innings.

Chemistry, poise or just some of that late-inning Braves magic took care of the rest.

“We have the confidence we can come back in any situation against anybody,” Olson said. “When you believe that, it’s going to happen more than if you don’t.”