I remember May 16, 1980 like it was yesterday. That night I got to stay up late into the night to watch Magic Johnson score 42 points and grab 15 rebounds in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. I also got to go with my dad to the walleye opener just across the border into southwest Minnesota.

That night was also the last time I enjoyed fishing.

It was a cool, dreary night – but we caught our limit (I think)! As our night of fishing came to a close, I went to retrieve the stringer of fish that we caught…but that stringer was not been pushed securely into the ground, and all those fish swam away. They took my fishing heart with them!

Marlins swim away

Today’s rain-soaked finale between our Braves and those slippery Fish brought all those memories back for me. Atlanta appeared to have caught its limit – at least for this series – only to have AJ Minter let ’em get away. Minter didn’t push the stringer in the ground and the Marlins swam away with a 5-4 victory.

Kyle Wright was nasty today in his rain-shortened start, allowing striking out six in three innings of work. And the bullpen was solid – except for Minter – who has given up 12 runs this season while only giving up 16 in all of 2022.. Collin McHugh, Dylan Lee, Kirby Yates, and Nick Anderson worked five scoreless innings, setting the stage for heartbreak.

Yuli Gurriel, Avisail Garcia, and Jazz Chisholm all had run-scoring hits in the top of the ninth for the Marlins. Garrett Cooper lined the game-winner into the gap in right-center to give the Marlins the lead. Dylan Floor, who squandered the lead for Miami last night, worked the bottom of the ninth, where Eddie Rosario grounded out and pinch-hitters, Sam Hilliard and Ehire Adrianza, both stood there looking at strike three.

The fifth was good to the Braves

The fifth was a good inning for the Braves. Sean Murphy led off with a walk, Vaughn Grissom bunted for a hit, and Rosario singled to left. Kevin Pillar walked to score Murphy, Chadwick Tromp singled in Grissom, and Rosario scored on a Ronald Acuna fielder’s choice.

Our best hope for tonight is the Mets will Met while playing the lowly gNats. I also hope the Braves quickly move on from the one that got away today. We’re still in first, eight games over .500, and tomorrow is Max Friedday.