When he considers a strategy he does so with data on his mind — and a pulse. That is what he took Sunday in the ninth inning as he, pitcher Carlos Martinez and catcher Yadier Molina opted to walk Atlanta’s Brian McCann to face Dansby Swanson while clinging to a 1-0 lead. They favored Swanson’s numbers, hitless in six at-bats against Martinez, ahead of the nuance of Swanson’s recent swings and putting the go-ahead run on base to get him.
Swanson drilled a misplaced slider for a two-out, game-tying double. Then that runner given first base scored as the Braves spoiled an epic start by Adam Wainwright and upended the Cardinals 3-1 in Game 3 of a National League Division Series.