Soler's impact with Braves' offense 'huge'

BALTIMORE -- Since joining the Braves at the Trade Deadline, Jorge Soler has fit right in with their surging offense. As Atlanta completed its road trip 9-0 with a 3-1 win on Sunday at Camden Yards, Soler slid into the DH spot for the third straight game.

Soler smacked his 17th home run of the season, a Statcast-projected 384-foot shot to left-center field in the fourth inning. His blast broke the scoreless tie, giving the Braves their first lead of the game. He also hit a single in the eighth inning, ending Sunday's contest 2-for-4 with one RBI.

"They've been paying off," said manager Brian Snitker about the team's acquisitions at the Trade Deadline. "We've been getting good dividends on those guys. That's for sure."

In 20 games since joining the Braves, Soler is slashing .257/.378/.500 with five homers. Manager Brian Snitker asks his players to hit in clutch situations, and the new addition has done just that.

Saturday’s 5-4 win came down to the ninth inning with Soler at the plate. Catcher Stephen Vogt and Ozzie Albies both got on base with one out to force an O’s pitching change. After a six-pitch battle with reliever Tyler Wells, Soler hit a sac fly to give his team some breathing room.

“Huge,” said Austin Riley about Soler’s impact. “From the dugout, [Wells] looked like a big dude throwing hard. To be able to put that run across the board and help us win the game, [Soler’s] had some really good at-bats, super good dude. I've enjoyed his time here so far.”

In Soler’s 19 games with the club, the Braves have come out on top 16 times. Not only is the team surging at the right time -- now five games ahead in the NL East entering Sunday -- but it seems like all the acquisitions at the Deadline have made the team stronger.

“Sometimes I wonder if I overdo it,” joked Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos about adding players who fit in with the “vibe” of the team. “I walk away from really talented players all time. I still try to balance that. I don't know that I'm ever going to find the right blend, but my default is always to go with the high-character good guys.”

Minor League update
It isn’t just the big league club that is finding success. Triple-A Gwinnett held on for its fifth straight win on Saturday, topping Louisville, 10-4.

Saturday was a great night to be named Travis in Louisville, as both Travis Demeritte and Travis Snider blasted three-run homers in the win.

Eddie Rosario is currently making rehab starts with the Stripers, warming up before rejoining the Braves. He started to show some of his power on Saturday, smacking two doubles and two RBIs. In Rosario’s nine previous games, he had gone just 3-for-34, so the breakout was good news for the outfielder.

Anthopoulos doesn’t want to rush Rosario’s return, though. Rosario last played in the Majors on July 5th before sustaining a right abdominal strain. He was on the IL when he joined the Braves at the Trade Deadline, giving the organization time to decide where he fits on the active roster.