AP photo by John Amis / Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann pulls back his mitt after tagging out the Miami Marlins’ Jorge Alfaro at home in the ninth inning of the Braves’ 4-3 win on July 7 in Atlanta.ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves’ Charlie Culberson has only a lukewarm acceptance of his “Charlie Clutch” nickname.
He only made the moniker more difficult to shed with his game-saving throw to the plate in the final inning of Sunday’s matchup with the Miami Marlins.
Atlanta third baseman Josh Donaldson capped a strong finish to the first half of the MLB season by hitting a two-run homer, and Culberson’s defensive play helped the National League East Division leaders escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to beat the Marlins 4-3 and earn another series victory.
The Braves are 10-2 in decisive contests of three-game series this season, including five straight wins, and 7-0 in those decisive games at SunTrust Park. The Braves are 8-0-1 in their past nine series.
Atlanta Braves left fielder Charlie Culberson comes off the field to applause after Sunday’s 4-3 win against the Miami Marlins in Atlanta. Culberson, a former Calhoun High School standout, threw out the Miami Marlins’ Jorge Alfaro at home plate for a double play after catching a Neil Walker liner in center field in the ninth inning.With no outs and the bases loaded, Culberson, a former Calhoun High School standout, caught Neil Walker’s fly ball in left field and threw out Jorge Alfaro at the plate.