ATLANTA — Matt Olson was at his locker Friday afternoon and talking about how he wants to play every game, to never be out of the lineup even if he’s slumping. He reasoned that he could always do something, anything, to help the Braves win — a sacrifice fly, a defensive play — and didn’t want to miss out on that opportunity.
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He’s long since ceased slumping, and Olson has been doing plenty to help the Braves win — a lot.
That continued Friday night against heralded two-way Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani, who had been baseball’s best pitcher since early June but got rocked by Olson and the Braves in a stunning reversal of fortunes in the seventh inning.
Olson’s two-run homer off Ohtani sparked a seven-run seventh during the Braves’ 8-1 win at sold-out Truist Park. It was the first game back from the All-Star break and turned out to be one of the worst statistical outings of Ohtani’s career — all the more notable because he was nearly perfect through six innings.
.@mattolson21, for the lead!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/8pQRKaQKEM
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 23, 2022
The Braves had one runner reach base through six, that on an Austin Riley double in the second inning. Ohtani had 11 strikeouts and threw 71 pitches (53 strikes) through six innings, joining Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in franchise history with at least five consecutive double-digit strikeout games.
But after Ohtani and Braves veteran Charlie Morton staged a scoreless pitchers’ duel through six and rookie left-hander Dylan Lee got the Braves through the seventh, Dansby Swanson led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. Olson followed two pitches later with his 18th home run on an 0-1 splitter from Ohtani.
The first five Braves reached base in the inning — walk, homer, single, single, single — before Ohtani recorded an out, and one batter later, Orlando Arcia’s three-run homer chased the big right-hander from the game.
Arseeya!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/MXQNNxLneC
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 23, 2022
Ohtani came in blazing hot — 6-0 with a 0.45 ERA in his previous six starts before the break — but gave up twice as many runs (six) in the seventh inning as he had allowed in those six starts combined and three times as many earned runs.
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“He was absolutely dominant,” said Morton, who gave up two hits and three walks and hit two batters in six scoreless innings. “But the guys got to him in the seventh.”
It was Olson’s homer that sent a jolt through the dugout and changed the entire vibe.
“Just watch the video, you can see all of our reactions,” Arcia said through an interpreter. “Ohtani was doing a tremendous job, and Olson was able to get one out there. Put us ahead, and obviously you could see all the emotion. The party just kind of kept going on in the dugout.”
Arcia added: “Nothing but respect for Ohtani. He was amazing. But it’s not over until the 27th out. So anything can change.”
Arcia replaced Robinson Canó in the third inning after the second baseman became dizzy, possibly from dehydration. (A team official said Canó felt normal later.)
“That’s a tough ambush, man,” manager Brian Snitker said of having Arcia step in on short notice against Ohtani. “Robby got dizzy there, and it’s like, we’re yelling for (Arcia) to come out there. That’s a rough ambush. But he’s done such a good job for us in the absence of Ozzie (Albies), and I’m happy for him.”
Olson was one of only three Braves who’d faced Ohtani before Friday, and the former Oakland slugger was 1-for-15 against him before the homer.
“He’s seen him more than anybody,” Snitker said. “During our hitters’ meeting, he had good advice for the guys. Which, (Ohtani’s) stuff’s so good … but you’re right, (Olson) keeps doing it.”
Olson is on pace to break the Braves’ single-season franchise doubles record and could also threaten Hank Aaron’s franchise single-season record of 92 extra-base hits, particularly impressive considering the legendary Aaron holds the MLB career record for extra-base hits.
There’s another number Olson takes a lot of pride in, even if it’s highly unlikely that he or anyone else will come anywhere near the all-time record in this category: consecutive games played.
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Olson is the current MLB leader with 229, including every inning of every game in his first season with the Braves. Atlanta has baseball’s two leaders in games played. Olson and Swanson have played all 95, though Swanson was replaced for a few innings of a lopsided game at Philadelphia.
“I never really want a day off,” Olson said. “That’s how I like doing it. I’ve had them before, and it just feels like you’re kind of sitting and watching. We get paid to go out and play; I want to do it as many times as possible. It’s what we do, and I like being in there every day.”
Olson has five home runs, a double and 13 RBIs in his past seven games. He has an MLB-leading 34 doubles with 18 home runs in 95 games.
His 52 extra-base hits lead the National League and put him on pace for 89 in 162 games. Aaron set the franchise record with 92 extra-base hits in 154 games in 1959, when he led the majors in batting average (.355), slugging percentage (.636), OPS (1.037) and total bases (400).
Riley’s second-inning double gave him 51 extra-base hits including 27 home runs. Riley is second in the NL in homers and second to Olson in extra-base hits.
Olson last missed a game on May 1, 2021, with Oakland. He started all of the remaining 134 games after that last season, with 131 starts at first base and three at designated hitter. He has played all 853 1/3 innings this season — all at first base, no DH duties.
“He’s like most of the boring pros are,” said Snitker, who uses “boring pro” as the highest form of praise. “They come in and every day’s the same. That’s how those guys get through years of doing this grind. They’re not up and down, they’re the same every day. He prepares, he’s consistent with his work and his attitude, and that’s how they survive this.”
As for giving Olson a day off, such as during the first baseman’s extended slump earlier in the season, Snitker said, “He comes and expects to play. I talked to him about a day off or whatever, and I get horse-laughed. That’s what I love about guys like that, how consistent they are — and they expect to play.”
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Granted, 229 games is only a small fraction of Cal Ripken’s mind-numbing record of 2,632 consecutive games played, considered one of the most unbreakable records in baseball. But in pro sports today, with load management and adherence to analytics, playing every day has become increasingly rare.
Olson took over the MLB lead when Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield ended his streak at a franchise-record 553 games on July 11 because of a toe injury. Merrifield’s streak was the majors’ longest since Miguel Tejada played in 1,152 consecutive games from June 2, 2000, through June 21, 2007.
Many players welcome an occasional day off, particularly if they’re struggling or perhaps facing an especially difficult pitcher that day. Olson, like Swanson and Riley, views it through a different lens.
“I don’t want any days off,” he said. “If it’s ever not going well, the next game could be the game to get you right. Going out there, you always feel like you can help the team win, even if you’re not swinging it well. You can go play good defense or have a good at-bat, or a sac fly, move a guy over, something like that. So I don’t want to miss out on it.”
Olson’s 34 doubles were the most in franchise history before the All-Star break, and he’s on pace for 58, which would shatter the modern-era franchise record — Marcus Giles’ 49 in 2003 — and the all-time franchise record of 51 by Hugh Duffy in 1894.
“He’s fit right in from the day he got here,” Snitker said recently of Olson. “Been a consistent force. He shows up, plays every day, he’s prepared, the ultimate professional. I’ve loved having him on this club and being able to manage him.”
(Photo of Matt Olson: Brett Davis / USA Today)
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