Ozzie Albies’ family was visiting Atlanta for the first time this week. They won’t leave disappointed.
Albies played a key role in igniting a late Braves rally that resulted in an 8-5 win over the Phillies at SunTrust Park on Thursday.
The 21-year-old, playing in his first opening day, homered to center in the bottom of the eighth. That cut what was once a 5-0 Braves deficit into 5-3.
“I didn’t (know it was a home run),” Albies said. “I just hustled, and it was gone. Felt great.”
The team went on to score two more runs in the inning. Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to win it.
It wasn’t the first noteworthy homer of Albies’ young career. He homered Aug. 3 for his first major-league hit.
When asked which was better, he thought for a moment.
“The last one,” he said. “It was my first big league hit, so I’ll take that one.”
Thursday was the first regular-season game the seven visiting family members had seen Albies play.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I’ve never had this before. It’s my first one. Feeling great. I was happy for it and hopefully have a lot more years feeling like this, every opening night.”
