Braves claim 3rd walk-off win of series

In 11th inning, Lane Adams gets his first walk-off home run.

Lane Adams almost walked away from baseball a year ago. But Sunday afternoon, he walked away with a Braves victory.

Adams, who entered the game as injured Matt Adams’ replacement in the fifth, hit a walk-off homer on the first pitch he saw in the 11th inning and the Braves won 10-8 over the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park. It was Adams’ first walkoff home run at any level.

In the weekend’s four-game series, the Braves claimed walk-off victories three times, the first time the franchise has done such since at least 1930. It was their ninth of the season, with five against Miami.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s kind of what you play for, these situations . ... I’ve been hard on myself the past few nights for some at-bats in the late innings. I was just wanting a chance to redeem myself. Luckily I got it, and I was able to come through.”

Though not a pinch-hit situation, Adams has become the Braves’ first bat off the bench after not even going to majorleague spring training. He’s made a knack for clutch performances, hitting .375 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

“He’s been a nice little weapon to have,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Speed, he’s not scared on the bases. The thing the guy does, you pinch-hit him, and he comes up and gives three good whacks and gives himself a chance. He’s done a really good job all year in those situational roles.”

Down three runs in the ninth, Freddie Freeman singled, and Nick Markakis doubled with one down. Freeman scored on a Tyler Flowers’ ground out to cut the deficit to 8-6. Adams walked, and the Braves loaded the bases with two down, and Rio Ruiz shot one past third to tie the game at 8.

Ruiz was 0-for-3 and down 1-2 in the count before his hit.

“We had a good vibe going into it pretty much,” Ruiz said of the ninth inning. “Then it came down to me pretty much battling.”