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Matt Olson’s Wind-Aided Homer Extends Iron-Man Streak on Lou Gehrig Day

The blast underscored his durability by producing a 49-degree launch angle that Statcast flagged as the steepest home run this season.

Overview

  • Matt Olson hit a tiebreaking, sixth-inning homer Tuesday that extended his consecutive-games streak to 844 and gave the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
  • Statcast measured the homer at a 49-degree launch angle and recorded the ball being pushed 29 feet to the right with 17 feet of carry from wind, making it the season's steepest recorded home run.
  • Olson said he thought he had flown out and credited a strong breeze for keeping the ball drifting until it cleared the tall right-field wall.
  • Bryce Elder delivered a quality start with 6 2/3 innings and three earned runs to set the table for Olson’s go-ahead swing as the Braves continued their strong run this season.
  • The game fell on MLB’s Lou Gehrig Day when teams wore No. 4 patches to honor Gehrig and raise ALS awareness, and Olson’s streak and remarks linked his daily availability to that legacy.