What Braves Manager Thought Before Justin Turner’s Clutch Double

After sparking fear in the Braves dugout, Justin Turner flipped the script of Wednesday night’s game at Fenway Park.

Atlanta was clinging to a one-run lead over Boston when Turner stepped into the batter’s box with runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh inning. The 38-year-old came through in the clutch, skying a bases-clearing double that gave the Red Sox their first lead of the series finale. Boston never looked back from there, notching a 5-3 win and in turn a two-game sweep.

To the casual baseball fan, Turner might not be very imposing with the bat in his hands. But when the two-time All-Star dug in with a chance to change the game Wednesday, Brian Snitker was a bit spooked.

“He’s a veteran hitter, he’s one of the better hitters in the game,” the Braves manager told reporters, per MLB.com. “When I looked up there, I saw it was second and third and him up there, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s probably the last guy I want to see up there quite honestly.’ Because he’s been through the wars, and nothing fazes him and he’s such a good hitter.”

Turner’s go-ahead double probably shouldn’t have surprised anyone, as the veteran infielder has been on a tear this month. He posted a .361 average through 72 July at-bats with four home runs, seven doubles and 23 RBIs.

Turner will try to finish the month strong this weekend when the Red Sox visit the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series.