The Atlanta Braves haven’t won a postseason series since 2001 and have lost 10 straight postseason series in that span. So, you can imagine that tensions were rather high as the Braves found themselves three outs away from ending that drought during Thursday’s Wild Card Game 2 against the Reds.
Well, the Braves can thank the National League home run leader, Marcell Ozuna, for loosening up the entire dugout.
Batting in the eighth inning with Ronald Acuña on base, Ozuna launched a laser of a home run to left field. But keep an eye on what he did before reaching first base. Forget about a bat flip: He stopped to take a fake selfie.
💪The Sultan of Selfie 💪#MixItUp pic.twitter.com/hHWY4WovSi
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 1, 2020
This angle is, uh, amazing.
Stop, stare, selfie. #Postseason pic.twitter.com/956TJNEZ9O
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2020
Marcell Ozuna took a selfie after hitting a missile of a HR 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/OfCtOb5dkv
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) October 1, 2020
Ronald Acuna and the Braves couldn't believe Marcell Ozuna took a selfie mid-HR trot. #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/MPJ8soFkW2
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) October 1, 2020
That show of personality clearly ignited the whole team as Adam Duvall — who was also struggling in the series — followed up with a two-run homer of his own.
And the whole dugout got in on the selfie act.
#Postseason baseball is fun. I mean just look at this Braves "selfie" haha pic.twitter.com/zfEgurin2u
— Palmira (@palmirayicela) October 1, 2020
And, sure, traditionalists and UNWRITTEN RULE enthusiasts may get upset about the antics. But to that, I say get out of here. Ozuna needed to give his team a boost, and the celebration wasn’t directed at any Reds player.
The team was having fun, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The Braves won, 5-0, to reach the NLDS and end the drought.
