Atlanta Braves fans jubilant as team rallies to win home opener in walk-off fashion: "Best game of the season so far" "This team never gives up"
The Atlanta Braves rallied to walk-off the San Diego Padres in a 7-6 victory during the team's home opener at Truist Park on Thursday night.
Atlanta trailed 6-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but logged a pair of runs in the frame to knot the score at 6-6.
After San Diego was held scoreless in the top of the ninth, the contest appeared headed for extra innings as Padres reliever Nabil Crismatt got the first two outs in order in the bottom of the frame.
However, outfielder Eddie Rosario roped in a double and was brought home on a flare single by shortstop Orlando Arcia to give Atlanta a sudden, stunning victory.
WALK-OFF WINNER!
#ForTheA https://t.co/2QWuUikEt4
It was a back-and-forth affair between the Braves and Padres. Atlanta took a 2-0 lead through three innings before San Diego battled back to lead 3-2 after the top of the fourth. Undaunted, the Braves immediately seized the advantage back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.
The Padres again led 5-4 after six innings and added two more in the top of the eighth before Atlanta's late-game effort brought the contest home in their favor.
@Braves That was the best game of the season so far https://t.co/IjWtmzL67m
Please do that again on Saturday when I'm there?! 
@Braves Wow what a game!!! 😊 Please do that again on Saturday when I'm there?! 😬
@Braves Might be one of the best games of the year!!! Take notice NL East!!!!! You wanna win the division you’ll have to go thru us!!
Many fans claim to be able to tell early on when their team is about to have that "special season."
@Braves This teams just different
@Braves THIS TEAM NEVER GIVES UP https://t.co/AE0PdoR3dA
@Braves THIS TEAM IS DIFFERENT
Many Braves fans fretted after Arcia was named the team's starting shortstop to replace Dansby Swanson, who departed as a free agent to the Chicago Cubs this past winter. However, Arcia's .370 batting average thus far has Atlanta manager Brian Snitker looking like a genius for injecting the Milwaukee Brewers castoff into the starting lineup.
@Braves That’s my SS
@Braves https://t.co/zpml8jeLYY
@Braves ORLANDO MAGIC
The victory improved the Atlanta Braves to 6-1 on the season. The team has a firm grip on control of the National League East Division after the first week of the season. Atlanta won the division in a tiebreaker over the New York Mets last season.
@Braves 161-1 should get us to the playoffs
Atlanta Braves remain home for next five games
Atlanta fans will have five more games to heap adulation on their Braves after the spectacular events of Thursday night. Atlanta hosts three more games against the Padres throughout the weekend before welcoming the Cincinnati Reds to town for a three-game set beginning Monday night.