After five-and-a-half innings, Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker left the top step of the dugout, walked past the coolers, past the buckets, past spray bottles and candy bars and binders thick with important information like how to shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers again. He arrived at Bryse Wilson, his 22-year-old starting pitcher who was seated on the bench having thrown 74 pitches and the game of his life. Snitker extended his hand.
They hadn’t won yet, but they were getting around to that. They weren’t one win from the franchise’s first World Series in 21 years, but that was coming too.