Braves, Mets set to remember 9/11, honor U.S.A.

As folks around the United States prepare this weekend to commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11 going from horror to inspiration, we’re reminded of what helped with that conversion.

Baseball.

Then again, it is our National Pastime.

So Atlanta’s Turner Field will rank among the most appropriate places on Sunday to pay tribute to all of those heroes who surfaced before, during and after the collapse of Twin Towers. That means the Braves will host the Mets in more than just a game between National League East rivals. From a video tribute featuring the scroll of all 9/11 victims to a 21-gun salute with a flyover, the afternoon will function as a reminder of the game, when the bottom of the eighth inning on Sept. 21, 2001, in Shea Stadium became legend wrapped inside of emotion.

The Braves led, 2-1, with a Mets runner on base and future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza strolling to the plate.

Could he? Would he? Here was the only definite: Hearts still ached throughout New York City over that nightmare fewer than two weeks before, but American flags waved everywhere. Then came endless joy after Piazza ripped a home run over the center-field wall for what turned into the game-winner. Even Braves players forgot they were trying to hold off the Mets for the division title by responding later with smiles.

“I think it became evidently clear that people just wanted to cheer about something,” Piazza said during an MLB Network documentary, in which he also mentioned his overwhelming feelings of woe before the game. “I remember looking up and praying to God, saying, ‘Lord, please give me the strength to get through this, because I don’t know if I can.’ It’s amazing, when you’re in the right place and the right time, and you believe in yourself and you have a lot of people pulling for you, and you feel it.”

Piazza was referring to his moment on Sept. 21. Even so, when it comes to Americans in general, …

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