“Earlier than my final punch final evening, he advised me [my] The season simply began and I’ve been hitting the ball exhausting and seeing it nicely ever since,” Harris stated. “Properly, I suppose my season has simply began.”
Harris actually timed it nicely, as his residence run in opposition to Adam Ottavino within the eighth inning prolonged the Braves’ successful streak to 4 video games and gave them eight wins of their final 9 residence video games in opposition to the Mets. This was solely his third residence run and eighth further base hit of the season.
“He’s going to have an amazing season,” Ronald Acuña Jr. stated by way of an interpreter. “Issues are beginning to go his approach and they’re going to proceed to go his approach.”
The Braves have the very best report within the Nationwide League (37-24). They’ve a three-game lead over the second-placed Marlins, a 7.5-game lead over the Mets, and an eight-game lead over the Phillies within the NL East. Atlanta benefited from Ozuna’s resurgence in Could and now hopes to see Harris produce the identical approach he did when he arrived this time final 12 months and nonetheless gained the Jackie Robinson NL Rookie of the 12 months Award.
Harris began this injury-plagued season with a .163 rating and a .490 OPS in 38 video games. However he exited together with his first three-hit recreation and third multi-hit efficiency of the season with among the confidence Ozuna had impressed earlier than Harris hit a 105.4-mph lineout within the eighth inning of Tuesday evening’s win Hour left in opposition to Ottavino.
“I advised him you’re the very best midfielder in MLB, so you need to belief your self,” Ozuna stated. “I advised him he couldn’t take into consideration something up to now and simply begin the season now. At present he got here in and did it with a great perspective. You’ll be able to see it on his face.”
The “Cash Mike” smile that Braves followers noticed so usually final 12 months grew even greater when Harris gained that ultimate battle in opposition to Ottavino. The Mets reliever left a 1-1 cutter over the middle of the plate, and the Braves outfielder drilled a 443-foot residence run over the midfield fence. This was the longest residence run of his younger profession.
“After I first tried it, I used to be like, ‘Oh, that felt good,’” Harris stated. “You don’t actually really feel it proper off the bat whenever you hit the candy spot. I simply put it in a trot, saluted the bullpen and gave my cash mike on the finish.”
Cash Mike’s residence run celebration occurred 19 instances in Harris’ 414 at-bats final 12 months. This 12 months’s try and construct on rookie success was hampered by a again damage that sidelined him for 3 weeks in April. Two video games after coming off the damage checklist, he sustained a knee damage and spent two weeks taking part in uncomfortably with a restrictive knee brace. Now he lastly feels good once more.
“I really feel like myself,” Harris stated. “I used to be simply ready to get the outcomes on an evening like tonight.”
How irritating had the previous couple of days been? Harris gained 4-1 on balls he hit at 95 mph or extra throughout final weekend’s sequence in Arizona. He was additionally robbed of Corbin Carroll’s sliding seize in midfield in the course of the sequence.
Harris began Wednesday’s three-hit recreation with a bunt single he positioned on the third bottom line. Braves supervisor Brian Snitker believed this might take some strain off the outfielder’s shoulders.
“It could actually get you off the mat and energized,” Snitker stated. “It sort of did.”
Harris adopted Orlando Arcia’s two-out double with one in every of his personal, then scored when Acuña chased Max Scherzer with a inexperienced single within the sixth set.
Acuña made an amazing catch in opposition to the middle proper subject wall, stopping Tommy Pham from scoring a base-loaded further base hit within the seventh spherical. Harris’ residence run was really hit not lengthy after he spawned his personal web jewel. He completed the highest of the eighth by dashing again to the midfield lane to snap up Mark Canha’s lengthy drive with a leap.
“It’s not simple whenever you’re not doing nicely,” Snitker stated. “He’s experiencing issues for the primary time and I’ve to provide him credit score for not affecting his defence. He’ll give himself an opportunity to repair the ship.”