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Braves on winning end of three replays in Miami

Reviews play key role in correcting decisive extra-inning home run

MIAMI -- The Braves were on the winning side of two challenges and a crew chief review in Saturday's 4-3 win in extra innings over the Marlins at Marlins Park.

Leading off the 10th against reliever Bryan Morris, Evan Gattis blasted one off the top of the high wall in left-center field, near the yellow stripe that distinguishes a home run from a ball in play. The ball bounced back into the field and the hit was ruled a triple as Gattis rounded second base. But crew chief Jerry Lane was already walking in to review the call.

"I saw it kick off and [center fielder Marcell Ozuna] didn't have the ball as I was rounding second, so I had to go to third," Gattis said.

It took the crew just 30 seconds to overturn the call and rule that Gattis' ball had hit above the line, giving him a solo homer that put the Braves ahead 4-3, which ended up being the final score.

Atlanta issued their challenge in the ninth inning after reliever David Carpenter stuck out his glove to grab a throw from first baseman Freddie Freeman on a ground ball by pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin. Carpenter reached out to tag Valdespin on the back, but first-base umpire Mike Estabrook called Valdespin safe at the bag.

After 1-minute, 2-second review, the safe call was overturned to end the inning.

The Marlins had their own issue with a call in the fourth inning. In the midst of the Braves trotting eight batters to the plate in the frame, Miami starter Nathan Eovaldi didn't get any help on a challenge of a tag play at home.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Eovaldi intentionally walked B.J. Upton to get to Braves pitcher Alex Wood, who was 2-for-34 on the season and had struck out in his first at-bat. But instead of going down easily, Wood lined the fifth pitch of his at-bat into center field and picked up his first career RBI in the form of Gattis.

As Andrelton Simmons rounded third, Ozuna corralled the hit and threw a strike home. Jeff Mathis grabbed the ball from the right side of the plate and seemed to have applied the tag just as Simmons' feet were crossing the plate.

It took Marlins manager Mike Redmond a few moments before he decided to challenge the play, and, once he did, the replay officials deliberated for 2 minutes, 29 seconds. Without enough evidence, though, the ruling on the field stood and the Braves were able to score their third run of the inning. Wood was credited with two RBIs.

Eovaldi retired the next batter, Jason Heyward, on a strikeout to end the inning.

"That's what it's there for," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "It's there to get the plays right. We've gotten to the point where nobody argues because both managers want to see it be right."

Maria Torres is an associate reporter for MLB.com.
Read More: Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Evan Gattis, Freddie Freeman, David Carpenter, Andrelton Simmons, Jordany Valdespin, Jeff Mathis, Alex Wood