Arcia returned from the injury list earlier than expected, just in time to be a part of one of the Braves’ most exciting and satisfying wins of the young season. He and Acuña put on impressive defensive plays ahead of Harris’ walk-off single in a 3-2 win in 12 innings over the Orioles at Truist Park on Sunday afternoon at Truist Park.
“To see them run [Marcell] Wanting to face Ozuna and me, it kind of lit the fire in me, you know what,” Harris said. “I caught a good first pitch and tried to hit it hard and I did.”
After the Orioles deliberately led Ozuna to create a double play situation with automatic runner Ozzie Albies on second and an out, Harris drilled Cionel Pérez’s first pitch slider off the left field wall at center. This was the first career walk-off hit for the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, who has faced multiple complaints that year.
Harris missed three weeks with lower back pain, returned for a week and then missed two games after pinching his right knee at Wednesday’s game in Miami. He was back in the line-up on Sunday wearing a knee brace that didn’t limit the midfielder either offensively or defensively.
“Michael hasn’t had many fights since he came back,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It will be good if these pile up on him.”
Harris should return sometime this weekend. But as recently as Friday, the Braves thought it might take Arcia another 10 to 14 days to recover from breaking his left wrist on April 12. A few good practice sessions on Friday and Saturday sped up the schedule and helped keep Atlanta’s roster looking as healthy as it has been for most of this season.
The Braves have won two out of three during this potential World Series preview. Atlanta has an NL-best record of 24-11, and even with back-to-back losses, the Orioles still have MLB’s third-best record (22-12).
“We just fought all weekend and are happy about the series victory,” said Harris.
In addition to delivering the game-winning hit, Harris backed Acuña by telling him Austin Hays tagged from second base to try and reach third base on Adam Frazier’s flyout to start the 11th inning.
“I told him he was tagging, but in my head I was like, ‘I don’t know why he’s tagging,'” Harris said. “I mean, this guy is the most accurate and he throws 100 [mph] from the outfield. I don’t know why he tested it.”
Acuña’s powerful, accurate throw threw out Hays’ attempt and gave the Braves’ bullpen an outstanding afternoon. Atlanta’s auxiliaries worked 6 1/3 innings, and the only run scored during that span came when Baltimore’s automatic runner met Anthony Santander’s double to start the 10th.
“I always assume that the runners will go,” Acuña said through an interpreter. “So I just try to make the toss and they just get themselves out there.”
Acuña competed Sunday as second among all MLB players in fWAR (2.1) and average arm strength (95.8 mph). No longer constrained by the lingering effects of his 2021 knee surgery, he is once again a top NL MVP contender.
Arcia might not fit the same description, but his return will certainly make an impact on a team that has managed to last the past three weeks with Vaughn Grissom as shortstop. Arcia’s influence was felt with an out in the 10th when he set up Gunnar Henderson’s sharp grounder and made a quick throw to third base to pull Jorge Mateo back.
“I love the fact that he has the confidence to make a game,” Snitker said. “That was huge. Everything can happen. He had an incredible game at the shortstop.”
While no injury has been reported, there are some doubts as to whether Max Fried will make his next scheduled start. But with catcher Travis d’Arnaud possibly a few days after returning from the injured list, the Braves are looking whole again.
“I couldn’t even sleep last night from the excitement of rejoining this team,” Arcia said through an interpreter.