ATLANTA -- Mauricio Dubón delivered the clutch go-ahead single that halted Jacob Misiorowski’s dominance and propelled the Braves to an eventful and exhilarating 3-2 win over the Brewers on Friday night at Truist Park.
But Dubón didn’t want the spotlight shining solely on him. So when asked to do the postgame interview on BravesVision, he made sure that Eli White, the defensive star of the game, was also present.
“I mean, it was a great team effort,” Dubón said. “Yeah, I got the hit and everything, but everybody contributed. It was just a great win.”
It was also one of those “unexpected” wins that baseball so often creates.
The Braves had lost six of their last seven, and their lineup was still missing both Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II in Friday’s series opener against Milwaukee. They sent Martín Pérez, a pitcher they designated for assignment in April, to the mound to oppose Misiorowski, who hadn’t allowed more than a run in any of his eight starts going back to the end of April.
But as the night progressed, the Braves looked more like the team that had spent most of this season with MLB’s best record. Here’s a look at the night’s five key players:
1. Center fielder Mauricio Dubón
Misiorowski entered Friday 7-0 with a 0.17 ERA (one run in 54 1/3 innings) in his last eight starts. Per MLB Network’s research staff, that was the lowest ERA in any eight-start span since earned runs became an official statistic in both the AL and NL in 1913 (minimum 15 frames).
Baseball’s latest pitching phenom wowed the crowd with a fastball that was clocked above 103 mph seven times and averaged 101.6. Dominic Smith’s soft single against the flamethrower’s 102.1 mph heater in the second was noteworthy. The only previous hit by a Braves player against a pitch 102 mph or higher was Josh Donaldson’s single against the Cardinals’ Jordan Hicks on May 26, 2019.
Smith and Austin Riley’s singles in the second inning stood as Atlanta’s only hits until Jorge Mateo’s elite speed created a leadoff infield single in the sixth. Ozzie Albies lined a single to center, and Matt Olson battled back from 0-2 to draw a nine-pitch walk to load the bases. This set the stage for Dubón, who laced his game-winning single to left field against a 101.3 mph fastball.
“As a competitor, they always say to not give your opponent too much credit,” Dubón said. “He’s got a different fastball. He’s blessed.”
Dubón is now hitting .382 (13-for-34) with 23 RBIs with two outs and runners in scoring position. His single stands as the only hit Misiorowski has allowed in six at-bats with the bases loaded this year.
“He's got that clutch gene,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “Some people don't believe in that, but it's a real thing. Do you think you can just slow the game down in big moments? Not everyone can do that.”
2. Left fielder Eli White
Taking advantage of the playing time he’s getting with Acuña and Harris unavailable, the fleet-footed outfielder went into the left-field corner to rob Christian Yelich of an RBI double in the seventh. But his top highlight was the throw he made from left field to deny Jackson Chourio’s bid to score the tying run in the ninth.
“He saved the game right there,” Dubón said. “That was the play of the game. That was more important than getting a hit against Misiorowski with two outs."
3. Starting pitcher Martín Pérez
Throwing an 88 mph fastball might not be flashy, but it was effective. The veteran lefty allowed just one run on six hits and two walks over six innings against Misiorowski, who allowed two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings.
Pérez has a 2.91 ERA in 11 starts for the Braves. Not bad for a non-roster invitee who went unclaimed when the Braves designated him for assignment in April. He has proven to be one of the team’s most reliable starters.
4. Right fielder Mike Yastrzemski
Yastrzemski’s seventh-inning homer off Abner Uribe created the cushion the Braves needed when the Brewers tallied a ninth-inning run against Raisel Iglesias.
5. Shortstop Jorge Mateo
The speedy infielder sparked the sixth-inning rally with an infield single. But he also made a few key defensive plays. In the process, he increased the likelihood he’ll continue to get more time at shortstop than Ha-Seong Kim, who has become a $20 million bench player.