All-out sacrifice in L.A.: Eli White rescues the Braves before ending up flat on his face 
The 7-2 scoreline in Atlanta’s favour does not tell the full story of the tension at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. In the sixth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Max Muncy launched a 107 mph rocket that looked destined to flip the game on its head. Nobody had counted on Eli White. The Braves outfielder made a desperate leap to haul in the ball before crashing full-bore, face first, into the blue padding on the outfield wall. A spectacular play that saved the day, but left White on the ground for several long seconds.
Into concussion protocol
The collision was brutal. Michael Harris II, who was sprinting over to help his teammate, could hardly believe it: “I was shouting, I wanted to see if he was alright because I saw the impact.” White managed to stay in the game for another inning, but manager Walt Weiss had no choice but to pull him. The verdict came back: concussion protocol. Even though the player was walking around the clubhouse after the game, his head was still “throbbing” too much to continue. He will be reassessed before the trip back to Atlanta.
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The pitchers breathe easier
If anyone owes White dinner, it’s Bryce Elder. The Braves starter was cruising along with 14 straight outs before completely losing the plot in the sixth, handing out three straight walks. Robert Suarez came in and couldn’t shut things down either until Muncy smashed that thunderbolt. “I didn’t know if he caught it or what, I just heard the sound of it hitting the wall,” Elder admitted, still stunned by the selflessness of his outfielder.
A warrior’s identity
In the Braves clubhouse, the play sums up exactly who Eli White is. A guy who doesn’t think twice and gives everything every time he steps on the field. While the team gets set to celebrate Harris II with a bobblehead giveaway on Wednesday, it is White’s bravery that has everyone talking. Atlanta leaves Los Angeles with a valuable win, but above all it will hope its ironman outfielder recovers quickly from that heavy collision with the fence.
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