Austin Riley's walk-off sac fly sealed a 5-4 comeback win for the Braves over the Mets on June 18, 2025. Ozzie Albies tied it late in a thrilling victory.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
This is the kind of win that can change the feeling in a clubhouse. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, Austin Riley stepped to the plate, the weight of a frustrating season on his shoulders. He didn't need a homer, just a fly ball. He delivered, sending a sacrifice fly deep enough to score the winning run and cap a wild 5-4 comeback victory over the rival Mets, sending Truist Park into a frenzy.
With the win, the Braves' playoff odds now stand at a sobering 8.3%.
For a while, it felt like another one of those nights. The Braves found themselves trailing the Mets 4-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth, and the mood was tense. But this team found a spark. A furious two-run rally, punctuated by a clutch, game-tying hit from Ozzie Albies, knotted the score at 4-4 and breathed new life into the ballpark. Starter Chris Sale battled through six innings, giving up three runs but striking out eight to keep the team in it. The bullpen was lights-out, culminating in Raisel Iglesias's scoreless tenth inning that set the stage for Riley's heroics.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. As incredible as this win feels, it's a single victory in a long campaign. The Braves improved to 32-39, but they remain in third place in a tough NL East. The win snapped a frustrating losing streak, but the statistical models still give them just an 8.3% chance of seeing postseason baseball. This comeback needs to be a turning point, not just a fleeting moment of joy. They need to stack wins like this to even begin closing the gap in the Wild Card race.
While the big-league club fights for its life, the future is brewing down on the farm. With no significant roster moves made today, all eyes are on top pitching prospect Cam Caminiti. The 18-year-old lefty, now with Augusta, is the crown jewel of the system. With a fastball that already touches 98 mph and a projectable frame, the organization sees him as a future rotation anchor. The Braves are wisely taking it slow, focusing on his development and building up his innings. In a season with its share of struggles, the thought of Caminiti headlining the rotation in a few years is a powerful dose of hope for Braves Country.
One win doesn't make a season, but it sure beats the alternative. Tonight's walk-off was pure baseball magic, a reminder of what this team is capable of when it clicks. The challenge now is to bottle this energy and carry it forward. The climb is steep and the odds are long, but for one night, the Atlanta Braves gave their fans a reason to believe. Now, can they do it again tomorrow?
