Truist Park's biggest moments ... so far

ATLANTA -- Julio Teheran threw the first pitch and Ender Inciarte recorded many of the other “firsts” when the Braves opened Truist Park (then going by a different name) with a 5-2 win over the Padres on April 14, 2017.

Through the first four seasons of this stadium’s existence, the Braves have regularly presented the home crowd lasting memories.

Here are the top five moments in Truist Park history:

1. Matzek’s dominant night
Oct. 23, 2021

Eddie Rosario hit the game-winning, three-run homer in Game 6 of the 2021 NLCS against the Dodgers. But lasting memories of that pennant-clinching night will focus on what left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek did after he entered with runners on second and third, no outs and the Braves clinging to a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning. Matzek killed that threat and electrified the crowd with consecutive strikeouts of Albert Pujols, Steven Souza Jr. and Mookie Betts. The southpaw then struck out Corey Seager, Trea Turner and Will Smith in a perfect eighth inning. Atlanta held on to win, 4-2, and advance to the World Series, where they would defeat the Astros in six games.

2. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s grand slam
Oct. 7, 2018

After Walker Buehler intentionally walked Charlie Culberson with two outs in the second inning and then walked Sean Newcomb to load the bases in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, Acuña made the Dodgers hurler pay when he drilled a grand slam into the left-field seats. Acuña, who was 20 at the time, became the youngest player in postseason history to hit a grand slam.

3. Big step toward a title
Oct. 12, 2021

Freddie Freeman created one of the best postseason moments in club history when he hit a go-ahead homer off the Brewers’ Josh Hader with two outs in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Freeman’s game-winning shot sent Atlanta to the NLCS.

4. Markakis’ Opening Day walkoff
March 29, 2018

Nobody predicted the 2018 season would include the Braves winning the first of three consecutive National League East titles. But Nick Markakis may have provided a slight hint when he concluded an 8-5 Opening Day win over the Phillies with a three-run homer off Héctor Neris.

The Phillies led 5-0 before Phillies manager Gabe Kapler opted not to allow Aaron Nola to face Freddie Freeman with one out in the sixth. Freeman greeted reliever Hoby Milner with a two-run homer and later drew a two-out intentional walk against Neris in the bottom of the ninth. This set the stage for Markakis, who responded by drilling his first career walk-off homer into the right-field seats.

5. Freeman’s walk-off single
Sept. 30, 2020

Freeman’s walk-off single against Reds reliever Amir Garrett gave the Braves a 1-0, 13-inning win in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. This marked the first time two teams had ever remained scoreless through the first 11 innings of a playoff game. The game, which featured a matchup of Trevor Bauer against Max Fried, remained scoreless for 4 hours and 39 minutes.