Braves' Markakis hits walkoff HR after opting into season

ATLANTA (AP) — Nick Markakis capped his first start of the season with a game-ending home run in the ninth inning that lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night.

Days after opting back into the season after stepping away due to coronavirus concerns, Markakis lined the one-out homer off Wilmer Font (0-1) that carried into the restaurant behind the right-field stands.

Markakis was added to the active roster on Wednesday after changing his mind about sitting out the year.

Following the homer, Braves players circled home plate with plenty of distance, waving their hands in the air as Markakis finished his trot.

Mark Melancon (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth.

Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the first off Toronto rookie Nate Pearson.

Bo Bichette hit a homer in the fourth for the Blue Jays.

Right-hander Touki Toussaint gave the depleted Atlanta rotation a boost by setting career highs with his 6 2/3 innings and nine strikeouts.

Toussaint left the game with a 3-2 lead, but Blue Jays pinch-hitter Teoscar Hernández singled up the middle off Tyler Matzek to drive in Rowdy Tellez to tie the game. Toussaint gave up four hits and three runs with no walks.

Pearson, making his second start, allowed three runs on two hits in five innings.

Marcell Ozuna didn't look happy when a 96 mph fastball from Pearson sailed above his head in the fourth. Ozuna answered by lining a single to left field with an exit velocity of 110 mph.

Ozuna moved to second on Pearson's wild pitch to Nick Markakis, whose grounder to first advanced Ozuna to third. Adam Duvall's fly ball to left field drove in Ozuna for a 3-1 lead.

An apparent roster snafu forced the Toronto Blue Jays to change their pitching plans in the game.

The team optioned right-hander Jacob...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Braves-Markakis-hits-walkoff-HR-after-opting-15465674.php