Latest Ozzie Albies News | ӣ��Ƶ

Atlanta's road dominance and history against Sandy Alcantara make them the play vs. Miami Marlins

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:45:03 -0400

It was a solid day yesterday as we went 2-1 with my posted plays. The loss came in the Brewers vs. Cubs game. Chicago lost the game 5-0, and I had the over 6.5. I leaned toward the Brewers winning, but I didn't get there personally. Today, we will get there all the way as the Braves take on the Marlins in an evening matchup.

The Atlanta Braves are among the best teams in baseball. This team struggled last year, mostly due to injury, but they finished in fourth place of the division. I think everyone expected that they might take a step back last season, but that was a pretty big drop. This year, the team is healthier and looks like they may run away with the National League East. They've been strong road warriors this season as well with an 18-8 record.

In an effort to take three out of four games in this series, the team turns to Spencer Strider. It hasn't been a long season for Strider, but his numbers look strong with a 1-0 record, 2.45 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. My bigger concern about Strider is that he's allowed 10 walks this year in just 14.2 innings. Five of them came in his first game back, but he is still giving up too many, in my opinion. The good news for him is that the Marlins are 19th in the league in walks. Collectively, the Marlins are hitting just 1-for-12 against Strider.

The Miami Marlins finished ahead of the Braves last season, but I don't see that happening again this year. Miami is one of those franchises that seems to be in a never-ending rebuild. The only difference is that the Marlins do occasionally have success. They just trade away any valuable asset before they have to shell out a contract. The fish are currently 22-28 for the year, but they do have a winning record at home (albeit a slight one at 15-14).

Tonight, they get one of their trade chips taking the mound. Sandy Alcantara, especially if he can regain his Cy Young form, is a guy that Miami will likely be shopping around the deadline. Overall, Alcantara is 3-2 for the season with a 3.53 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. In 10 starts, he has turned in eight quality starts. The two bad starts were really bad. He allowed seven earned runs in both of them. For the season, he has two starts where he has allowed 14 earned runs, and eight where he has allowed 11. Braves hitters have been strong against Alcantara.

There are a couple of guys worth considering for player props. Ronald Acuna Jr. is hitting .342 against Alcantara, with half of those hits going for extra bases. Ozzie Albies is 15-for-48 with eight extra-base hits. Austin Riley is on the other end, with 15 strikeouts in 35 at-bats. I like taking Riley at 2+ strikeouts at +238. I also think the other two at 2+ total bases and plus money. Those are worth a sprinkle or same-game parlay.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Based on their history and current form, I think the Braves are the right play in this one. They are a little pricier than I would like to pay at -140, but I think with the Braves' history against Alcantara, we have a good chance to get the win. I'll take the Braves and Riley's player prop.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Ozzie Albies' career numbers against Kyle Freeland make him the key player prop in Braves-Rockies clash

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:04:20 -0400

The Sunday baseball card often looks packed. Every team plays almost every Sunday, so you have a lot of games to choose from. As a sports bettor, that’s a good thing because you have opportunities for the books to make mistakes. However, it also takes longer for you to evaluate each game. Let me do the work for you and give you a risky, but fun, look at a game between the Braves and the Rockies.

The Braves come into the game with a strong record for the year, and the start that everyone hoped they would get off to after the rough last season. It is amazing what can happen when you don’t have constant injuries to your team. In fairness, there are still some missing pieces, but Atlanta has been able to navigate those better than it did last year. It is only the start of May, and the NL East looks like theirs to lose.

To make matters worse for the teams chasing them, they are sending out a great starter to the mound, Spencer Strider. This will be the season debut for Strider, and I have to expect that the Braves will be rather cautious with him. Last season, he turned in 23 starts and accumulated 125.1 innings over the season. He didn’t have a great year, going 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. The good news for him is that he gets to come back against a soft-hitting Rockies team. However, they are 8-for-32 overall against him, but only have two RBIs and 14 strikeouts.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Colorado Rockies were expected to be the worst team in baseball by most analysts. That hasn’t proven to be the case, as it seems like they have some fight in them this year. Before we start printing playoff tickets, the team is still under .500 and won’t sniff the postseason. However, for a team that won 43 games last year and didn’t have 15 wins until June 16th, they are at least ahead of that pace.

There are a number of reasons the team is performing better — pride, better hitting and better pitching, etc. To me, one guy specifically stands out who has had a good start to the season, and that is today’s starter, Kyle Freeland. For the year, Freeland is 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. I’ve been a Freeland fan for many years and think he has been buried a bit with the Rockies. He was never likely to be an Ace with a club, but he probably could’ve been a reliable arm and even a postseason starter. He only has one start at home this year, but it was a very good one, going 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on three hits.

The bad news for the Rockies and Freeland is that the club has feasted on his pitching over the years. Collectively, the Braves are 45-for-137 against him, leading to a .328 average. Ozzie Albies is the guy I’m locked in on for 3+ total bases and may even do 4+ and 5+ as he is hitting 11-for-24 with four extra-base hits against Freeland.

Another one worth playing is Mauricio Dubon, who is 7-for-19 with four extra-base hits off of Freeland. Albies will be an official play, but I’m going to do a Same Game Parlay for a bit of Sunday fun with 2+ total bases from Albies (3+), Dubon, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Rile. That pays out at 12:1.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

Shohei Ohtani lifts Dodgers to historic 8-0 start with walk-off homer

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:56:28 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers heated up during the World Series and have yet to cool off.

The Dodgers improved to 8-0 on Wednesday night when Shohei Ohtani hit a walk-off home run to lift the team to a 6-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers are off to the best start ever by a defending World Series champion.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Overall, not just tonight, there is a really good vibe within the team," Ohtani said through a translator after the game. "So I just think that’s allowing us to come back in these games to win."

Ohtani’s 399-foot shot sent the Dodgers faithful into a frenzy. The reigning National League MVP is 10-for-30 to start the season with three home runs and three RBI. He is batting .333 with a 1.126 OPS.

"He keeps getting into these situations and moments where you’re expecting the unthinkable out of him and he rarely disappoints. That's really saying something," Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said.

YANKEES GREAT CC SABATHIA SHARES THOUGHTS ON VIRAL TORPEDO BATS: 'I THINK IT’S GREAT'

Michael Conforto and Tommy Edman had home runs as well.

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Shortstop Nick Allen was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI as well.

Dodgers starter Blake Snell lasted all of four innings. He allowed five runs on five hits but was not charged with an earned run. Braves starter Bryce Elder went four innings as well, allowing three runs on three hits. He struck out three batters.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Braves fell to 0-7 to start the season. Five of their seven losses came by three runs or fewer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow ӣ��Ƶ Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the ӣ��Ƶ Sports Huddle newsletter.

Austin Riley's clutch homer, crazy game-ending double play lifts Braves over Phillies, ties NLDS

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:40:24 -0400

The Philadelphia Phillies were four outs away from taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NLDS and heading back home – but Austin Riley had other plans.

The Atlanta Braves third baseman, on a full count, just needed a base hit to bring in the tying run that was standing on third base.

But small ball is boring and home runs win games. So, he took Jeff Hoffman deep to give Atlanta a 5-4 lead. That was the score the Braves won by, but it did not come without several bullets of sweat.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Bryce Harper led off the top of the ninth with a walk against A.J. Minter, forcing Brian Snitker to bring in Raisel Iglesias for the save. Iglesias got J.T. Realmuto to fly out, but Nick Castellanos gave one a ride deep into center field. However, Michael Harris II made an incredible leaping catch against the wall.

Harper, though, sensed that the ball would drop, so he never tagged up. By the time Harris II caught the ball, Harper was in between second and third, and Atlanta was able to double him off, although just barely, to end the game.

APP USERS VIEW THE PLAY HERE.

Atlanta dropped Game 1 in their home ballpark, and they were down 4-0 in the sixth inning, so it's fair to say that panic probably began to settle in for the 104-win club and its fans.

But an Ozzie Albies RBI single in the sixth gave the Braves life, and Travis d'Arnaud hit a two-run home run of his own in the seventh.

Now, with an insane ending, momentum is on their side.

BRAVES FANS THROW BOTTLES ON FIELD AFTER CONTROVERSIAL CALL

The Braves have used the long ball all season to win – their 307 homers and .501 slugging percentage both were the most in MLB history in a single season, and their 104-58 record was the best in the big leagues this season.

The series heads to Citizens Bank Park, which was one of the wildest atmospheres last fall as the Phillies won their first pennant since 2009. That stayed true during their wild-card round sweep of the Miami Marlins.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Aaron Nola is the Phillies' scheduled starter for the contest; the Braves have yet to announce who will take the bump, but it's likely to be Bryce Elder or AJ Smith-Shawver.

Braves rally behind Ozzie Albies' clutch three-run home run in win over Brewers

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 13:03:44 -0400

Ozzie Albies wanted another chance to step to the plate with the game on the line after failing to deliver a night earlier.

Given that opportunity, Albies wasted no time making amends.

Albies hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Atlanta trailed 2-1 before Albies’ 407-foot shot to left-center.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"I actually want to be in those spots," Albies said. "It’s fun when you can help the team with something to win games and score runs. To me, it’s exciting when you get up in those spots."

Albies' 23rd homer of the season came one day after Devin Williams struck him out with the bases loaded to end the Braves' 4-3 loss at Milwaukee. The three-time All-Star had gone 0 for 16 since Wednesday before connecting.

"He's got a slow heartbeat in him," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He doesn't panic or anything."

Albies connected on a first-pitch sinker from Elvis Peguero (1-3) to end a string of 28 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings by Brewers relievers.

"They’ve been a big reason why we’re at where we are," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "A little bit, we’ve got to point to like, we’re giving them a one-run lead. Scoring two runs is probably, regardless of what happens the rest of the game, it’s probably not going to win you a lot of games."

ANGELS BEAT PIRATES AS SHOHEI OHTANI HOMERS IN LAST HOME GAME BEFORE TRADE DEADLINE

Milwaukee lost two of three to the NL East-leading Braves as its NL Central advantage dipped to a half-game over the Cincinnati Reds, who beat Arizona 7-3 earlier in the day. The Brewers and Reds open a three-game series Monday in Milwaukee.

Atlanta slugger Austin Riley went 0 for 4 to end his streak of five straight games with a homer, which matched a Braves record. Riley had gone 10 for 21 with six homers and 16 RBIs over his last five games, the first time a Braves player had that many homers and RBIs in a five-game span since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920.

Daysbel Hernández (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the win in his big league debut. Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.

Atlanta's Travis d’Arnaud went 2 for 4 with a solo homer and a double. Milwaukee’s Brice Turang hit a 417-foot drive into the second deck of the right-field stands for his first homer since May 14.

PHILLIES AVOID GETTING SWEPT WITH EXTRA INNINGS WIN OVER GUARDIANS

The Brewers wasted a bounce-back performance from Julio Teheran, who struck out five and gave up just three hits, one run and no walks in six innings. Teheran entered the day having allowed 17 runs over 16 1/3 innings in his last three starts.

Braves starter Bryce Elder also broke out of a slump while allowing two runs and four hits in six innings.

TELLEZ'S RECOVERY

Brewers 1B Rowdy Tellez said he will have 17 stitches removed from his left ring finger Tuesday as he recovers from a freak injury. Tellez hopes to return in time for the Brewers’ mid-August road trip that includes series with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers.

Tellez already was on the injured list with right forearm inflammation when he was shagging fly balls in Cincinnati on July 15 and got his finger stuck in the outfield wall, ripping his fingernail off and causing a tuft fracture.

SCOTT ROLEN AND FRED MCGRIFF GET INDUCTED INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

"It’s kind of embarrassing," Tellez said before Sunday’s game. "I feel I let my team down."

Tellez is so eager to get back on the field that he spoke about the possibility of taking swings as early as Wednesday, one day after he gets his stitches out. He will get fitted for a metal brace to wear on his finger while hitting.

"I need to get back as soon as I can to help them out," Tellez said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: LHP Max Fried (forearm) is expected to make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. LHP A.J. Minter (shoulder) could pitch for Gwinnett on Tuesday. ... RHP Jesse Chavez (shin) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Brewers: Turang and RF Sal Frelick collided on a blooper to shallow right that Turang caught to end a seventh-inning rally. Both players remained in the game. "They're a little sore," Counsell said. "I'd say we're optimistic for tomorrow, but we'll have to definitely check on them tomorrow."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

UP NEXT

Braves: Off on Monday before starting a series at Boston on Tuesday. RHP Charlie Morton (10-7, 3.36 ERA) will start for the Braves.

Brewers: Host the Reds on Monday. The scheduled starters are RHP Colin Rea (5-4, 4.64) for the Brewers and RHP Graham Ashcraft (5-7, 5.77) for the Reds.

Braves' Brian Snitker ejected following animated argument with umpires

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 09:50:25 -0400

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker was ejected in the second inning of the team’s 10-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday and had a lot to say about the umpiring after the game.

Atlanta defeated Kansas City 10-3 thanks to home runs from Matt Olson and Austin Riley. But Snitker managed to find himself watching the rest of the game from the clubhouse after arguing a call.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Umpires had placed runners on first and second after a ball Olson hit off the left-field wall was ruled foul and then later ruled fair. With Ronald Acuna Jr. on first base, Snitker argued that the star outfielder would’ve been fast enough to reach third base. Instead, he was placed on second.

"They got the call right, but I don't think they placed the runners in the right spot," Snitker said after the game. "You have one of the fastest guys in Major League Baseball at first and you're going to put him at second base on a ball down the line off the wall? I would have been OK if they would have scored him. That’s judgment and I didn’t agree with it."

TWINS MANAGER EJECTED AFTER UMPIRES LEAVE YANKEES PITCHER IN GAME FOLLOWING STICKY SUBSTANCE CHECK

Snitker was flailing his arms as he walked back to the dugout.

Atlanta was leading 5-1 at the time and later wrapped up the win.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Braves also won on Saturday, 9-3, thanks to Sean Murphy and Ozzie Albies’ four-RBI game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Braves infielder breaks finger one day after returning from broken foot

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 22:01:32 -0400

It has been an unlucky couple of months for Ozzie Albies.

On June 13, the Atlanta Braves' infielder fractured his foot on a swing that caused him to miss more than three months.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Braves activated him off the 60-day injured list on Friday night, but 24 hours later, he broke his pinky.

The injury occurred when he was sliding into second base in the fourth inning - he was replaced by Vaughn Grissom.

Albies was played in his 64th game on Saturday, and although he has missed lots of time, he has not played to his two-time All Star resume.

YANKEES' MARWIN GONZALEZ LEAVES GAME AFTER FREAK INJURY TO HEAD

The 25-year-old is putting up career lows in just about every category, playing to a slash line of just .244/.288/.407.

The Braves have been practically unstoppable since June 1 despite an injured, and bad, Albies. Since the start of June, they are 66-28 and have erased a 10.5-game deficit in the NL East behind the New York Mets.

They took over the lead on Sept. 9 by half a game, but entering Saturday, they trailed by a game.

The Braves won the World Series last year without Ronald Acuna Jr., who is a far superior player to Albies, who has two Silver Slugger Awards under his belt.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Albies is likely to miss the rest of the regular season, but could return for postseason ball.

Orlando Arcia's 2-run homer in 9th lifts Braves over Red Sox

Thu, 12 May 2022 06:41:33 -0400

Making the most of his first start in more than two weeks, Orlando Arcia hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Arcia lined his first homer of the season over the left-field wall off Ryan Brasier with one out in the ninth for his third hit of the game. The home run drove in Ozzie Albies, who led off with a single.

Arcia started at designated hitter. His last at-bat, as a pinch-hitter, came on May 3 and his last start came on April 24. He said he didn't know he was starting before arriving at Truist Park.

"For me it's the same either way," Arcia said through a translator, adding his goal is "coming to the ballpark with the same energy."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The opening for Arcia was created in part by the decision to hold out right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. due to soreness in his groin.

Arcia had two singles in three at-bats before his game-ending homer.

"I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight," Arcia said.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora and catcher Kevin Plawecki were ejected by plate umpire Adam Beck after he called strike three on Plawecki with the bases loaded to end the top of the sixth with the score tied at 3. The full-count pitch from Collin McHugh appeared to be low.

Plawecki slammed his helmet to the ground while arguing the call and was quickly ejected by Beck. Cora charged from the dugout and took up the spirited dispute, pointing to the plate and continuing his animated argument after also being tossed.

Christian Vázquez replaced Plawecki behind the plate.

Albies ended an 0-for-10 slump by leading off the ninth with a single against Brasier (0-1). The homer from Arcia was a surprise. He hit only two in a combined 81 at-bats with Milwaukee and Atlanta in 2021.

"It's great because he hasn't been playing a lot," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He hasn't lost his enthusiasm. He's been working."

The Braves rallied from a 3-0 deficit.

Kenley Jansen (1-0) struck out two and walked one in a scoreless ninth.

After matching its season high for runs in Tuesday night’s 9-4 win, Boston had early success against Ian Anderson, who allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Trevor Story’s two-run homer in the second drove in Alex Verdugo, who doubled with one out. It was Story’s first homer with Boston.

The Red Sox pushed their lead to 3-0 in the third when Rafael Devers doubled and scored on a single by J.D. Martinez. Devers hit his first career grand slam on Tuesday night.

The Braves tied the game in the third. Following a single by Arcia for Atlanta’s first hit off Nathan Eovaldi, Travis Demeritte pulled a fastball over the left-field wall for a two-run homer. Dansby Swanson walked, stole second and scored on Matt Olson’s double off the center-field wall.

Eovaldi allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings. He had six strikeouts with one walk.

SPLIT DECISION

With the split of the two-game series, the Red Sox were denied their first series win since April 11-13, when they took two of three from Detroit. They ended a streak of six consecutive series losses.

TRAINER’S ROOM

The Braves hope Acuña will feel better following an off day Thursday. Acuña felt the discomfort during Tuesday night’s game. "He woke up and it wasn’t any better," Snitker said. Acuña has made a successful return from surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He has hit .282 with two homers and five stolen bases in his first 10 games. ... Backup C Manny Piña will have season-ending surgery after tests revealed ligament and cartilage damage in his left wrist. Piña, 34, was placed on the 10-day injured list April 28 with inflammation in the wrist. Piña, who signed an $8 million, two-year contract before the season, is expected to return for spring training next year.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Boston is off Thursday before continuing its five-game trip at Texas on Friday night. The team had not announced its starting pitchers while awaiting an update on LHP Rich Hill, who could return from the COVID-19 injured list.

Braves: Following an off day, LHP Max Fried (4-2, 2.68 ERA) is scheduled to start in Friday night’s opener of a three-game series against San Diego. Fried is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in two career starts against the Padres.

Joe Musgrove, Manny Machado lead Padres to win over Braves

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 06:51:25 -0400

Joe Musgrove had been nervous about Thursday night ever since manager Bob Melvin told the big right-hander during spring training that he was going to start the home opener for his hometown Padres.

It was all worth it when Musgrove walked off the mound with two outs in the seventh inning to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 44,844 at Petco Park.

"Getting to open up in front of your hometown, a full stadium, especially when baseball is as exciting as it is in San Diego, it's everything I dreamed of," Musgrove said after the Padres routed the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves 12-1.

Musgrove pitched brilliantly and had plenty of help from an offense that had been somewhat lethargic opening the season. Manny Machado homered and tied his career high with five hits, and rookie C.J. Abrams hit his first homer for San Diego.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

As the bottom of the sixth dragged on, Melvin told Musgrove he didn't think he needed to go back out there. Musgrove, who grew up in suburban El Cajon, wanted to stay in the game.

"He said, ‘What if I give you two hitters and then pull you out and see if we can get you a little ovation,'" Musgrove said. "I said I'm up for that. My focus was just getting those first two guys."

Not long after the crowd gave Musgrove an ovation, it roared after Machado hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the inning, his first.

Machado went 5 for 5, scored four runs, had two RBIs and stole two bases. Eric Hosmer had four hits while new designated hitter Luke Voit drove in three runs. Atlanta's Ozzie Albies homered leading off the ninth, his second.

Musgrove's start came a year and five days after he threw the first no-hitter in franchise history, at Texas in his second start with the Padres.

Musgrove (1-0) held the Braves to four hits, struck out six and walked none. It was the first time in his seven-year career that he earned a start in a home opener.

Musgrove said he was stressed earlier in the day and his girlfriend was upset that he wasn't talking with her in the morning because he was "just trying to get myself in the right head space.

"It’s a good feeling to have the support of an entire city, but we also feel a little bit more pressure when everyone's reaching out and everyone’s pulling for you and everyone’s coming to watch you," Musgrove said. "It was nice to have a little bit of excitement from the offense and some of the other guys on the team to take a little bit of that off."

Said Melvin: "For one day, that's about as perfect a day as you can have, with a full house, opening day, Joe on the mound, Manny, Hos, C.J. home run. You can't script it any better than that."

Braves starter Charlie Morton (1-1) struggled through five innings. He allowed five runs and nine hits, struck out five, walked three and hit two batters. He also got the 1,500th strikeout of his career.

Abrams, the sixth pick overall in the 2019 draft, made the club after a strong spring. The 21-year-old shortstop, who's from the Atlanta area, hit an opposite-field homer to left on Morton's second pitch of the second. Voit added an RBI double to make it 5-0. Voit hit a two-run single in the sixth.

Abrams, whose parents were in the stands, got the silent treatment from his teammates in the dugout after his home trot and then answered a curtain call.

"It was a great experience. It was crazy," Abrams said. "The crowd was electric. We jumped on them early and got the win."

Morton got into trouble in the first when he hit two batters and allowed a single to load the bases after just four batters. Hosmer drove in two runs on a two-out single and Wil Myers singled in another run.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: LHP Blake Snell was placed on the injured list, retroactive to Monday, with a tight left adductor.

UP NEXT

The four-game series continues Friday night when Padres LHP MacKenzie Gore is scheduled to make his big league debut opposite Braves RHP Kyle Wright (1-0, 0.00), who will face the Padres for the first time. Gore, the third pick overall in the 2017 draft, takes Snell's rotation spot.

Marcell Ozuna, Ozzie Albies power Braves' offense in rout of Nationals

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 07:31:34 -0400

Marcell Ozuna homered twice and doubled, Ozzie Albies drove in three runs and the Atlanta Braves fired up their offense to rout the Washington Nationals 16-4 on Tuesday night.

Coming off an 11-2 loss, the Braves began the game with a .201 team batting average before banging out 19 hits and going 9 for 19 with runners in scoring position.

Ozuna, Austin Riley, Adam Duvall, Dansby Swanson and Orlando Arcia each had two RBIs.

"It felt good," Ozuna said. "Every time you come in and do some damage with your offense — that’s what I was thinking — how can I do damage with my offense and help my team to make a difference."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Travis d’Arnaud had three hits and a provided a bit of comic relief as he flopped to the field dramatically when hit on the left shoulder in the eighth inning by a 52 mph pitch from outfielder Dee Strange-Gordon.

Albies homered on a 59 mph pitch from Strange-Gordon, who made his first big league mound appearance.

Nationals star Juan Soto hit his 100th career home run. He joined six other active players to hit that many at age 23 or younger — the others are Miguel Cabrera, Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuña Jr., Albert Pujols, Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Trout.

Ozuna began the four-run fourth with his first homer this season, a drive to center off reliever Austin Voth that made it 7-1. Ozuna connected to left in the fifth off Paolo Espino, padding the lead at 11-1. It marked Ozuna’s 12th multihomer game and his first since Sept. 22, 2020, against Miami.

"I’m always confident," Ozuna said. "I’m always positive. I don’t want to have anything negative. Just come in and be ready for the game and do damage. If I get a good pitch to hit, I’ll swing."

Defending World Series champion Atlanta snapped a two-game skid. It avoided dropping three straight for the first time since losing four in a row last Sept. 14-18.

Bryce Elder (1-0), a fifth-round draft pick out of the University of Texas in 2020, won his major league debut, allowing three runs and six hits with no walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He was given a spot start after going 11-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 25 games across three levels of the minors last year.

"I thought I was going to be more nervous than I was," Elder said. "They called me last night and told me. I slept actually really well. My family and some of my friends were able to come out and I thanked them for that. The last 24 hours went by really quick."

The Braves went up 3-1 in the second when Heredia and Albies both doubled to drive in three runs charged to Patrick Corbin (0-2), who gave up six runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, his ERA rising from 4.50 to 10.80.

Corbin has lost seven consecutive starts to Atlanta with a 7.25 ERA dating to Sept. 6, 2019.

"I don’t know, I used to pitch pretty good against them, and then I’m not quite sure," Corbin said. "They work the pitch count. They have some veteran guys over there. Just one of those days today where it seemed like everything went well for them. And yesterday was the opposite for us. Have to get over this one and try to come back tomorrow and try to win the series."

Albies has a .429 average and 11 RBIs in 28 career at-bats against Corbin.

Atlanta has won 15 of 21 against Washington since the start of last season.

GOING, GOING, GONE

Solo’s second homer of the season, a solo shot, landed about 15 rows into the seats in right-center, traveling 451 feet and leaving his bat at 113 mph. Washington went back-to-back when Bell followed Soto with a homer.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Washington DH Nelson Cruz was scratched from the lineup because of groin tightness. Yadiel Hernandez moved from LF to DH, hitting fourth, and Lane Thomas was inserted in the lineup in left, batting seventh. ... Espino was drilled in the right thigh on a liner from Matt Olson in the sixth, but stayed in the game to give up a two-run double by Riley that made it 13-3.

ROSTER MOVES

The Braves designated C Chadwick Tromp for assignment as they selected Elder’s contract from Triple-A Gwinnett. Atlanta also optioned C William Contreras and LHP Tucker Davidson to Gwinnett and selected RHP Jackson Stephens’ contract while designating RHP Jacob Webb for assignment. Stephens pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth to earn his first career save.

UP NEXT

Braves LHP Max Fried (0-1, 7.94 ERA) hopes to bounce back from a rough opening day start. Atlanta’s ace will pitch opposite Washington rookie RHP Josiah Gray (0-1, 9.00) as the teams conclude a three-game series in Wednesday’s 12:20 p.m. start.

Maikel Franco has 4 hits, drives in 5 as Nationals trounce Braves

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 06:39:02 -0400

Maikel Franco knew he needed an adjustment after his 1-for-13 start to the season.

A new approach paved the way for a dramatic turnaround for Franco and the Washington Nationals.

Franco drove in five runs on four hits, including a two-run homer, as the Washington Nationals beat Huascar Ynoa and the Atlanta Braves 11-2 on Monday night.

Franco homered to cap a five-run third inning, then added a three-run double off Tucker Davidson when the Nationals scored five more in the eighth to turn the game into a rout.

"That was a great adjustment for me today, just coming back, don’t think about anything, just go out there and see the ball and have a good game for me and for my team," Franco said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Franco said his main adjustment at the plate was "just don’t chase those pitches down and away" and "attack my zone."

The Braves (2-3) lost their second in a row. Most fans in the sellout crowd of 42,263 left with their World Series replica rings, a much-anticipated promotion, well before the end of the game.

Josh Rogers (1-0) allowed only one run on two hits in 5 1/3 innings in an impressive fill-in start for Washington. The left-hander was recalled from Triple-A Rochester when scheduled starter Aníbal Sánchez was placed on the 10-day injured list with a stiff neck.

"I think I'd be lying if I said I wasn't mad or down," said Rogers of his emotions when sent to Rochester. "I tried to go to Triple-A and have a good attitude and turn the page."

Manager Dave Martinez said he promised Rogers "'You're going to be up here. Be patient. You're going to be the first one we call.'"

Lane Thomas doubled in two runs off Ynoa (0-1) in the third inning before Franco's homer over Washington's bullpen in left field pushed the lead to 5-1.

Ynoa allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in three innings.

"He’s still trying to figure things out," said Braves manager Brian Snitker of the 23-year-old Ynoa. "He’s not a finished product yet. ... I have confidence in him making the adjustments he needs to make."

Spencer Strider gave up one run in 3 1/3 innings.

Ozzie Albies doubled and scored on Marcell Ozuna's two-out single to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the first. Rogers retired the next 10 batters.

Thomas drove in three runs with two hits, including a run-scoring single in the seventh. Josh Bell drove in two runs with two hits.

SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT

Martinez met with his coaches before the game after learning the Nationals might be put up for sale. Martinez said managing principal owner Mark Lerner called him Monday morning to say his family is exploring the possibility of selling the team.

"To say the least, I was shocked," Martinez said. "... We’ll see where it takes us but I don’t want any distractions down here. We’re still going to play baseball and play to win."

BIG TURNOUTS

The attendance total was the fourth-largest in Truist Park history. The Braves have drawn more than 40,000 fans in four of their first five games. Sunday’s game against Cincinnati drew 38,233.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: Martinez said Sánchez, 38, was "still moving very gingerly but he does say he feels better." The move to place Sánchez on IL with a cervical nerve impingement in his neck was retroactive to Friday. "We want to make sure he's healthy before he even attempts to start throwing," Martinez said.

Braves: C Manny Piña (sore left wrist) was held without a hit in his first start of the season. Snitker said he plans for Piña "to do a lot of catching" as the top backup to Travis d'Arnaud.

UP NEXT

Nationals: LHP Patrick Corbin (0-1, 4.50) will start Tuesday night's second game of the series after he lasted only four innings, allowing five hits and two runs, in a 5-1 loss to the New York Mets to open the season. He is 6-7 with a 3.48 ERA in 17 career games, including 15 starts, against Atlanta.

Braves: Snitker has not announced his starter. LHP Tucker Davidson was a candidate before he was gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings in relief behind Ynoa and Strider. Now the Braves are more likely to call up one or two pitchers from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Braves win World Series thanks to power, pitching in Game 6

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 23:33:54 -0400

The Atlanta Braves fought through injuries, a tough National League East, a stacked playoff bracket and the best team in the American League and on Tuesday night they can call themselves World Series champions.

For the first time since 1995, the Braves won the World Series with a Game 6 rout of the Houston Astros 7-0. The Braves won the series 4-2.

Atlanta, much like in Game 5, started off strong.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Jorge Soler came up in the third inning with two outs and Ozzie Albies and Eddie Rosario on base. He battled with Houston starting pitcher Luis Garcia in an eight-pitch at-bat that ended with a moon shot to left field and over the train tracks at Minute Maid Park.

The home run put the Braves up three runs and the team never looked back.

Atlanta added to their leads in the fifth inning. Dansby Swanson homered to left field off one of the signs just above the seats. The two-run homer gave Atlanta a 5-0 lead. Freddie Freeman added one more run in that inning with a double to score Soler.

For good measure, the reigning National League MVP Freeman hit a solo home run off Ryan Stanek.

BRAVES' JORGE SOLER CRUSHES 3-RUN HOMER TO GIVE ATLANTA EARLY GAME 6 LEAD

"I usually try to stay the same throughout the game. That’s kinda just my M.O. Everybody knows that but … hitting a home run in a World Series is pretty cool. I saw all my teammates outside that, I saw my family just jumping up and down so emotion came out in that moment," Freeman said of the home run.

While the ball was popping off the bat, the Braves got an immensely clutch performance from Max Fried.

It looked like the Astros were going to get on Fried early. The young pitcher allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings of work in Game 2 and in the first inning of Game 6, Fried allowed Jose Altuve to single and a defensive mishap allowed Michael Brantley to make it to first base.

The Brantley play became a source of controversy because it didn’t appear the outfielder stepped on first base and instead stepped on Fried’s ankle.

With two on and no outs, Fried came back and struck out Carlos Correa, got Yordan Alvarez to ground out and struck out Yuli Gurriel. Huge.

Fried buckled down after that. He allowed just four hits and struck out six in six innings.

"To be honest, it was one of those things where I just didn’t want the inning to get out of hand the way that it did in the last outing. A couple of groundball base hits and the next thing you know it’s four runs on the board. It was basically just one of those moments where I said I want to be able to try and stop it and just let everything that I had and was luckily able to get out of it," Fried said.

The night shift would then take over for the Braves. Tyler Matzek would strike out four Braves batters then turn the ball over to Will Smith to close out the game.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Braves win their first World Series since 1995 and their second since the team moved from Milwaukee before the start of the 1966 season. The franchise’s history dates back to 1876 when they were the Boston Red Stockings. The team was also known as the Boston Beaneaters, Boston Braves, Boston Bees and Milwaukee Braves. The franchise now has a total of four World Series titles.

Astros fight back from early Braves grand slam, force Game 6

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:16:36 -0400

The Houston Astros stayed alive.

Martin Maldonado finished 1-for-2 with three RBI and Carlos Correa added two RBI in the team’s comeback victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 5, 9-5.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Astros needed to dig deep to get back into the game. Braves outfielder Adam Duvall hit a first-inning home run could have put the nail into the coffin for any team, but not the Astros.

Houston scored two runs in the second inning thanks to a Maldonado sac fly and an Alex Bregman RBI double. The Astros would tie the game up again in the third inning thanks to a Correa double that scored Michael Brantley and a Yuli Gurriel ground out scored Jose Altuve. The game was tied at that point 4-4.

Freddie Freeman would wake up in the bottom of the third inning with a 460-foot solo shot to put Atlanta back up one run. But that would be the last run scored for the Braves.

BRAVES' ADAM DUVALL LAUNCHES HIMSELF INTO WORLD SERIES HISTORY BOOKS WITH GRAND SLAM

A two-run single from Marwin Gonzalez and a Maldonado walk with the bases loaded put the Astros up two runs. Maldonado would strike again in the seventh and Correa in the eighth to go up four runs.

Houston’s bullpen came up strong against the Braves in the latter part of the game.

Yimi Garcia got the Astros out of the third inning as Framber Valdez was getting shelled, Jose Urquidy pitched an inning, Phil Maton went two innings and struck out three, Ryan Stanek held Astros hitless and Kendall Graveman bounced back after allowing a hit. He would close out the game for Houston.

The Braves started Tucker Davidson for Game 5. He went two inning and allowed four runs, two earned, on two hits. A.J. Minter would be hit up for three runs on three hits while Drew Smyly went three innings and let up two more runs on five hits.

Atlanta had eight hits in the game but failed to push more runs across the board when they needed it. Austin Riley was 3-for-4 and Travis d’Arnaud was 2-for-4.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Game 6 is set for Tuesday night back in Houston.

World Series: Braves take Game 1 with hot start, lose Charlie Morton

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 00:34:34 -0400

The Atlanta Braves jumped out to a hot start in Game 1 of the World Series and never looked back, defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Jorge Soler’s first swing of the night for either team put the Braves on top 1-0. The scoring barrage wouldn’t stop there as Atlanta would put runs on the board in the second and third innings as well.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

According to the FOX broadcast, Soler became the first person to hit a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning of Game 1 in World Series history. His solo shot was part of a two-run first inning that later saw Austin Riley double home Ozzie Albies.

In the second inning, Soler would contribute to the scoreboard again. He grounded into a fielder’s choice, which plated catcher Travis d’Arnaud. In the third inning, Adam Duvall hit a monster home run to left field. It traveled 387 feet over the left-field wall at Minute Maid Park.

BRAVES' CHARLIE MORTON EXITS WORLD SERIES GAME 1 WITH BRUTAL LEG INJURY

The Braves became the first team in World Series history to score in each of the first three innings of Game 1. It’s a big milestone in an event that has been around since the 1900s and for a franchise that has been to the World Series 11 times.

Freddie Freeman would add a sac-fly RBI that scored Dansby Swanson in the eighth to tack on one extra run.

Soler, Albies and Rosario each had two hits in the game.

Houston did score two runs to put some pressure on the Braves but it wasn’t enough. Chas McCormick grounded into a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to four runs. Later, a Carlos Correa ground out scored Jose Altuve in the eighth.

Yuli Gurriel thought he had a home run in the eighth as well but just missed. The ball caromed off the wall and Braves outfielder Eddie Rosario nailed Gurriel going for a double to end the inning and the threat.

It’s not all smiles for the Braves in the win.

WORLD SERIES: BRAVES JUMP OUT TO HISTORICALLY BLAZING START TO GAME 1

Starting pitcher Charlie Morton left the game in the third inning with a broken fibula. He took a liner off his leg in the second inning and it was affecting him greatly in the third. He would leave the game at the time.

Atlanta said he was done for the season with a broken fibula.

"RHP Charlie Morton underwent X-rays tonight that revealed a right fibula fracture. He will miss the remainder of the World Series and is expected to be ready for Spring Training in 2022," the Braves said in a statement shortly after the pitcher came out of the game.

A.J. Minter and the rest of the bullpen would hold steady to secure the win.

Astros starter Framber Valdez went two innings and allowed five runs on eight hits.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in Houston.

Braves' Eddie Rosario delivers game-winning hit, Atlanta takes 2-0 NLCS lead

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:10:21 -0400

The Atlanta Braves needed heroics in the ninth inning for the second straight night and on Sunday it was Eddie Rosario who came through in the clutch in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brusdar Graterol came to start the ninth inning. Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud singled and Cristian Pache came into the game to run for him.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Dansby Swanson tried to bunt but Graterol was ready for it and threw it to second base to get Pache out. Guillermo Heredia was able to move Swanson to second base on a ground out to third. Los Angeles relieved Graterol for Kenley Jansen but it was Rosario who got the best of the flamethrowing closer.

Rosario got the bat on the ball and Swanson would score the game-winning run.

It’s the second straight night the Braves got some late-inning heroics. Austin Riley provided the game-winner on Saturday night.

BRAVES' AUSTIN RILEY STUNS DODGERS WITH WALK-OFF SINGLE IN NLCS GAME 1

Atlanta now has a 2-0 lead with the NLCS moving back to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles was up 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Riley and Ozzie Albies would provide RBIs to tie the game.

Rosario finished the game 4-for-5 with an RBI. Joc Pederson his a two-run home run in the fourth inning to tie the game at two runs apiece. Rosario was the only Braves player who had more than one hit.

Los Angeles got big hits from Corey Seager and Chris Taylor in the game, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the Braves’ offense off late in the game. Seager was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Taylor was 1-for-2 with two RBI in the game.

Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer allowed two runs on four hits in 4 1/2 innings. Julio Urias and Graterol allowed the three other runs that cost Los Angeles the game.

Ian Anderson started for the Braves. He was chased after three innings. He allowed two runs on three hits. Will Smith was credited with the win after striking out two batters in the ninth inning.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The series goes to Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Braves' Austin Riley stuns Dodgers with walk-off single in NLCS Game 1

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 23:30:55 -0400

Austin Riley played the hero in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series for the Atlanta Braves on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth and Ozzie Albies on second base, Riley singled to left field to score a racing Albies. The RBI gave Atlanta a 3-2 victory and an early lead in the NLCS.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Riley finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI. He was also responsible for the game-tying home run off Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin in the fourth inning. Riley’s home run tied the game at 2-2.

PAIR OF RED SOX SLAMS MAKE FOR GRAND GAME 2 IN BOSTON'S WIN

Atlanta drew first blood in the first inning. Eddie Rosario scored on a wild pitch from Los Angeles starter Corey Knebel.

The Dodgers would tie the game in the second inning when Chris Taylor scored A.J. Pollock in the second inning. Will Smith would hit a solo home run and gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning.

It was the Braves’ game to win.

After bad baserunning that ended the Dodgers threat in the top of the ninth, Albies singled to center off Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen. He would then steal second base to get into scoring position for Riley.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Atlanta takes the 1-0 lead in the National League Championship Series with Game 2 set for Sunday. The Dodgers will start Max Scherzer and the Braves will start Ian Anderson. Atlanta also won the first two games of the 2020 NLCS before ultimately losing to the Dodgers in seven games.

Fried sharp, Braves blank Brewers 3-0 to tie NLDS at 1-all

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 22:21:39 -0400

Max Fried pitched six sharp innings and Atlanta’s bullpen held on after manager Brian Snitker’s quick hook, sending the Braves over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 Saturday to tie their NL Division Series at a game apiece.

The Brewers brought the tying run to the plate in each of the last three innings but couldn't get a key hit.

Austin Riley homered and Ozzie Albies hit an RBI double for the Braves, who bounced back after losing 2-1 in Game 1.

The best-of-five series heads to Atlanta for Game 3 on Monday.

Fried struck out nine, allowed three hits and didn’t walk anybody. The Brewers didn’t get a runner in scoring position until Willy Adames hit a two-out double in the sixth, and Fried responded by striking out Eduardo Escobar.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The left-hander went 7-0 with a 1.46 ERA over his last 11 regular-season starts. Counting Saturday’s performance, Fried has allowed just one earned run over 29 innings in his last four starts.

This was the second straight exceptional outing by a Braves starter in a series that has been dominated by pitching.

Atlanta’s Charlie Morton held Milwaukee scoreless through six innings Friday, but allowed a two-run homer to Rowdy Tellez in the seventh inning on his 85th and final pitch.

Snitker made sure Fried didn’t get quite that far. Fried had thrown 81 pitches when he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh.

The move nearly gave Atlanta two extra runs. After pinch-hitter Joc Pederson singled, Jorge Soler hit a deep drive that left fielder Christian Yelich caught in front of the wall.

Then the Brewers made things interesting against Atlanta’s bullpen.

After reliever Luke Jackson struck out the first two batters he faced in the seventh, Luis Urías singled and Lorenzo Cain walked to bring the potential tying run to the plate. Tyler Matzek replaced Jackson and got out of the jam by striking out pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor.

Jace Peterson walked and Kolten Wong singled to start the bottom of the eighth, but Matzek worked out of it by retiring Adames, Escobar and Avisaíl García in order.

Will Smith worked around a leadoff walk to Yelich and a single by Urías in the ninth by getting a flyout and a groundball double play for his first career postseason save.

Four Atlanta pitchers struck out 14 and combined on a six-hitter.

The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the third off Brandon Woodruff and were inches away from getting a third run in that inning.

Soler hit a one-out double down the left-field line and beat the throw home when Freddie Freeman singled to right. Albies drove in Freeman with an RBI double that went off the yellow at the top of the right-field wall.

Albies was left stranded at second, but the Braves extended the lead to 3-0 three innings later when Riley sent an 0-1 pitch over the center-field wall.

Woodruff struck out seven while allowing three runs, five hits and one walk in six innings. The All-Star right-hander had the worst run support of any major league starting pitcher during the regular season, which explains why he went 9-10 despite owning a sparkling 2.56 ERA.

OUTDOOR BASEBALL

With no rain in the forecast and temperatures in the 70s, Saturday marked just the third time the roof was open for a playoff game at American Family Field. Of the 16 playoff contests at this stadium since its 2001 opening, the only others to take place outdoors were the first two games of the 2011 NL Championship Series.

NOT SO BATTY

The Braves are hitting just .175 (11 for 64) in the series. Milwaukee isn't doing much better at .183 (11 for 60).

UP NEXT

The series heads to Atlanta with RHP Ian Anderson (9-5, 3.58 ERA) pitching for the Braves on Monday. The Brewers haven’t announced their Game 3 starter.

Tellez HR, throw spark Brewers over Braves 2-1 in Game 1

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 20:39:19 -0400

Rowdy Tellez spoiled Charlie Morton’s gem with a two-run homer in the seventh inning and threw out a runner at home plate, leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the Atlanta Braves 2-1 Friday in the opener of their NL Division Series.

Corbin Burnes, Adrian Houser and Josh Hader combined on a four-hitter that gave Milwaukee the early lead in this best-of-five series. Game 2 is Saturday in Milwaukee.

Former Brewer Orlando Arcia grounded to second with runners on the corners to end the game. That came after Brewers catcher Omar Narváez — who combined with first baseman Tellez on a key first-inning double play — blocked Hader's 1-2 pitch in the dirt to keep Freddie Freeman at third base.

Neither team produced much offense until the Brewers finally broke through in the seventh.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

After Charlie Morton (0-1) hit Avisaíl García with a 1-2 pitch to start the inning, Tellez ripped another 1-2 offering from Morton over the center-field wall to break a scoreless tie. The hefty, bearded slugger had gone 1 of 13 against the Braves this season until delivering that 411-foot drive.

Tellez was activated from the injured list Saturday after missing about three weeks with a right patella strain.

Atlanta’s Joc Pederson lofted a pinch-hit homer off Houser (1-0) with two outs in the eighth.

Morton’s 85th and final pitch to Tellez was among the few mistakes he made all day. He struck out nine, walked one and hit a batter to continue his recent history of exceptional postseason performances.

Burnes was every bit as good in his first career postseason start.

The NL Cy Young Award contender opened the game with two straight walks and threw 40 pitches in the first two innings but settled down from there. The right-hander struck out six and gave up two hits and three walks in six shutout innings, throwing 91 pitches.

After the Braves put runners on the corners with nobody out but failed to score in the top of the first, nobody got a runner past first base until Tellez homered.

Neither team had a hit until Milwaukee’s Lorenzo Cain’s one-out single to right in the third. The Braves’ first hit off Burnes came when Eddie Rosario led off the fifth with a bloop single to center.

Atlanta’s best scoring chance came at the very start of the game.

Burnes walked the first two batters he faced — Jorge Soler and Freeman — with Soler advancing to third on a passed ball.

Ozzie Albies followed with a sharp grounder down the first-base line that Tellez caught just before stepping on the bag. When he noticed Soler was trying to score from third, Tellez threw to the plate.

Narváez caught the one-hop throw and tagged Soler to complete the double play.

The Braves didn't get many more opportunities as Milwaukee used its loaded starting rotation to compensate for its lack of bullpen depth.

Milwaukee is playing this series without setup man Devin Williams and left-handed reliever Brent Suter. Williams fractured his throwing hand when he punched a wall the night the Brewers clinched the NL Central, and Suter has a strained right oblique.

Without those two in the bullpen, the Brewers had Houser work two innings to set things up for Hader. Houser spent the regular season in Milwaukee’s rotation.

UP NEXT

Left-hander Max Fried (14-7, 3.04) starts for the Braves and All-Star right-hander Brandon Woodruff (9-10, 2.56) pitches for the Brewers on Saturday. Fried has gone 7-0 with a 1.46 ERA over his last 11 starts.

Pederson, Contreras HRs power Braves past Mets 6-5

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 23:49:01 -0400

Joc Pederson hit a solo homer off Carlos Carrasco in the third inning, William Contreras went deep with a two-run shot off Carrasco in the fourth and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 6-5 on Saturday night.

Two nights after clinching their fourth straight division title, the Braves had three regulars in the lineup — first baseman Freddie Freeman, shortstop Dansby Swanson and left fielder Eddie Rosario. Manager Brian Snitker said the everyday lineup will be back for Sunday’s regular season finale.

The NL East champion Braves have won seven of eight. New York, which stranded the bases loaded in a two-run ninth inning, ended a two-game winning streak and will try Sunday to win the season series with Atlanta for the first time since 2017.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Pederson went deep into the Braves’ bullpen in right-center for his 18th homer of the year. Orlando Arcia followed with a double and scored on Freeman’s single to make it 2-0. Contreras’ eighth homer sailed into the left-field seats to put Atlanta up 4-0.

Rosario’s RBI single in the fifth made it 5-0, and the Braves led 6-1 in the sixth on Arcia’s RBI single.

Carrasco (1-5) had posted a 14.73 ERA in the first inning this season but changed his fortune by facing four batters and striking out three in the initial frame. He got no help from his offense as New York mustered three baserunners on an error and two walks in the first four innings.

Carrasco allowed five runs and seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings.

The Mets didn’t get a hit until Luis Guillorme snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a one-out single in the fifth. Michael Conforto singled with one out in the sixth and scored from first on Pete Alonso’s double to trim the lead to 5-1. Francisco Lindor tripled in the eighth for his 1,000th career hit and came home on Conforto’s 14th homer, a 418-foot shot to right off Dylan Lee, to make it 6-3.

Kevin Pillar's RBI triple and Brandon Nimmo's RBI pulled New York within 6-5 off Richard Rodriguez in the ninth.

Jesse Chavez started in a bullpen game for the Braves and tossed two perfect innings. Drew Smyly (11-4), who lost his spot in the rotation after losing at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 30, pitched around two walks in the fourth and a single the next inning.

A.J. Minter came on in the sixth and pitched the seventh. Jacob Webb recorded the final out to earn his first save in three chances, getting Villar to ground out with the bases loaded.

ROSTER MOVES

Robert Gsellman pitched the sixth after getting reinstated from the 60-day injured list. He had been out since mid-June with a right lat strain. The team optioned RHP Tylor Megill to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled INF Brandon Drury from Syracuse and designated him for assignment.

CLOSING IN

Braves 2B Ozzie Albies has seven triples, a career-high 30 homers and needs one double to become the 10th player with three seasons of at least 40 doubles, 20 homers and five triples. He would join Stan Musial (6), Lou Gehrig (6), Rogers Hornsby (6), Hank Greenberg (5), Chuck Klein (4), Mookie Betts (3), Ted Williams (3) and Al Simmons (3).

UP NEXT

Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch one inning in his second outing after returning from Tommy John surgery when the teams conclude the regular season. RHP Charlie Morton (14-6, 3.39) will pitch two innings for the Braves and will be their starter when the NL Division Series begins next Friday at Milwaukee.

Nimmo 2 HRs, leads Megill, Mets over Braves 4-3

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 08:50:29 -0400

Brandon Nimmo hit two solo home runs, Tylor Megill allowed one hit in five scoreless innings and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Friday night, snapping the NL East champions’ six-game winning streak.

One night after clinching their fourth straight division title, the Braves played just three regulars: second baseman Ozzie Albies, left fielder Eddie Rosario and Austin Riley, who moved from third to first base.

The Mets scored in the fourth when Francisco Lindor led off with a walk and Pete Alonso, who went 3 for 4, doubled him home to make it 1-0. Alonso took third on shortstop Orlando Arcia’s errant throw to the plate. He was initially called out, but a video review showed that he beat Ehire Adrianza’s tag.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

New York scored again in the inning on James McCann’s RBI single. Braves starter Huascar Ynoa (4-6) struck out Megill to strand the bases loaded.

Megill (4-6) didn’t allow a first hit until Albies singled to center with one out in the fourth. Albies stole second but was stranded on Riley’s strikeout and Rosario’s groundout.

Megill hopes to carry his final start of the season into 2022, when he'll be a candidate to stay in the rotation.

"Very important," he said. "Being able to go out there and throw well and that high that you threw well and you had success going into the offseason knowing that you finished strong. Keep that momentum going through the offseason and get ready for the next."

Nimmo’s seventh homer put New York up 3-0 in the fifth off Ynoa. Nimmo's eighth, coming off Spencer Strider in the seventh, made it 4-1. Both landed in the right-field seats.

"Tonight we saw him getting ready actually early and landing in a strong position and being able to extend the bat," Mets manager Luis Rojas said. "He’s a strong human being, and if he gets himself in a position where he can get the barrel out there, things like this can happen. There is power in it."

Rosario hit his 14th homer in the seventh off Heath Hembree, cutting the Mets' lead to 4-2. Adrianza homered off Trevor May in the eighth, and the Braves had two runners in scoring position when the eighth ended on Orlando Arcia’s lineout.

Edwin Díaz earned his 32nd save in 38 chances by working the ninth.

The Mets, assured of their fourth losing record in five years, are 30-49 on the road.

Megill, who walked one and struck out six, had lost his last two starts and had 12.86 ERA during that stretch. He had given up 12 homers in his previous six starts.

Jeurys Familia gave up Atlanta’s second hit, a single by Adrianza in the sixth. Adrianza scored on Albies’ double, trimming the lead to 3-1.

Ynoa, who hasn’t won since May 9, allowed three runs, six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in five innings. He is 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in six starts this month.

"He’s not a finished product yet," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He’s still learning, but overall I thought his stuff was good tonight."

TRAINER’S ROOM

Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman had treatment on his right elbow, which was hit by 100 mph pitch the night before. Freeman was among the starters given the night off.

YOU AGAIN

Mets OF Kevin Pillar faced Jacob Webb for the first time since Webb hit him in the face with a pitch on May 17, striking out with runners on first and third in the sixth.

SNAPPED

New York 2B Javier Báez’s career-best 23-game on-base streak ended when he went 0 for 4. He hit .386 with 18 runs, four doubles, four homers, 13 RBIs, 10 walks and five stolen bases during the streak.

ROSTER MOVES

The Braves selected RHP Strider to Atlanta, recalled LHP Dylan Lee to Atlanta, optioned LHP Sean Newcomb to Triple-A Gwinnett and placed RHP Edgar Santana on the 10-day injured list with a strained right intercostal muscle.

UP NEXT

Mets RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-4, 5.73) will face a yet-to-be-determined starter for Atlanta as the teams play the second game of a three-game series.

Fried, Riley power Braves past Phils; magic number down to 1

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:04:52 -0400

With the Braves closing in on a division title, Max Fried wanted to pick up where Charlie Morton left off the night before.

"I think it just kind of alleviated any kind of stress or anxiety coming into it, just knowing that he went out there and laid everything on the line and had such a good start," Fried said. "I just wanted to follow that up."

Fried pitched seven strong innings, Austin Riley drove in three runs, and Atlanta beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Wednesday night to move within one victory of a fourth straight NL East title.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Braves have won nine of 11 and reduced their magic number to one. Philadelphia, which dropped 4 1/2 games back in the standings with its third straight loss, can be eliminated from postseason contention with one loss or one Atlanta win. The teams conclude their series on Thursday; each has three games left after that.

Fried (14-7) improved to 7-0 with a 1.46 ERA over his last 11 starts, and the Braves are 10-1 in those games. The lefty allowed two runs — one earned — and four hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

Morton threw seven scoreless innings to beat the Phillies on Tuesday.

"It’s been huge," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "Charlie last night, and Max coming off a nine-inning complete game. Honestly, he was probably spent after the sixth and he went out in the seventh and had a 1-2-3 inning. It just shows the pitch ability of this kid and what he can do. They’re both battle tested as they continue to do now. That’s pretty good to have two guys like that you can lean on."

Aaron Nola (9-9) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings. He has a 6.00 ERA in six starts this month.

Bryce Harper, a leading candidate to win his second NL MVP award, and cleanup hitter J.T. Realmuto are a combined 0 for 15 in the series. Harper, who snapped a 23-game on-base streak, is 0 for 7 with five strikeouts. He struck out three times against Fried.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi knows his team is on life support.

"We have to win every game so we’ve got to do whatever it takes, obviously, and then we need a lot of help," Girardi said. "It’s frustrating. The game kind of got away from us in the seventh. Nola battled his butt off to only give up the three runs tonight, but again we didn’t do much off Max Fried tonight."

Atlanta led 3-1 when Ozzie Albies singled to begin the third inning and scored from first on Eddie Rosario’s two-out double.

Riley made it 5-2 in the seventh with a two-run double off Héctor Neris down the left-field line. Dansby Swanson followed with a two-run single up the middle off Sam Coonrod for a 7-2 lead.

Ronald Torreyes' RBI single in the second inning ended a streak of 17 2/3 scoreless innings for Fried. Odúbel Herrera had two doubles for the Phillies.

SIZZLING FRIED

Fried, who won his seventh straight decision, pitched a three-hitter last Friday at San Diego and tossed seven scoreless innings to win 3-0 on Sept. 19 at San Francisco. The lefty had gone 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two previous starts against the Phillies this year. Fried’s 38 victories since the start of 2019 are second-most in the majors during that span, trailing the New York Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (43).

MEASURING UP

Albies scored his 100th run of the season to become, at 5-foot-8, the second-shortest player in major league history with a season of at least 30 homers, 100 runs and 100 RBIs. Hack Wilson, listed at 5-6, accomplished the feat from 1927-30 with the Chicago Cubs.

DOWN ON THE FARM

The Phillies announced the hiring of Preston Mattingly, the son of Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly, as director of player development. He spent the last five years as San Diego’s coordinator of major league scouting and game planning.

UP NEXT

Phillies RHP Kyle Gibson (10-8, 3.60 ERA) will face the Braves for the first time this season as he pitches opposite RHP Ian Anderson (8-5, 3.60) in the finale of the three-game series. Gibson won his only previous start against Atlanta. Anderson has no decisions and a 3.09 ERA in four starts against the Phillies this year.

Soler, Braves win 10-8 in 10 innings to eliminate Padres

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:32:04 -0400

Jorge Soler hit a go-ahead double with one out in the 10th inning for his fourth RBI, and the Atlanta Braves won 10-8 on Saturday night to keep their 1 1/2-game lead in the NL East while eliminating the San Diego Padres from playoff contention.

The Padres were one out from a win in regulation when Eddie Rosario hit a tying single off major league saves leader Mark Melancon, who was trying for his 39th.

Soler, who hit a three-run homer in the sixth, then helped seal the biggest collapse in Padres history with his hit off Daniel Hudson (5-3). Ozzie Albies added a sacrifice fly.

San Diego, led by superstars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado and with a payroll of more than $170 million, had a one-game lead for the second NL wild card on Sept. 9 but then went into a devastating free-fall that cost the Padres a second consecutive postseason appearance.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Richard Rodriguez (5-4) pitched the ninth and Will Smith worked a perfect 10th for his 34th save.

Machado hit a grand slam in a game that had some big swings, and Adam Frazier and Eric Hosmer also homered for the Padres. Victor Caratini hit a go-ahead single in the sixth.

Machado's slam with two outs in the fifth gave the Padres a 7-3 lead. It was his 12th career grand slam and the Padres’ seventh this season. Machado has 27 homers.

The Braves came right back and tied it in the sixth when pinch-hitter Joc Pederson delivered an RBI double and Soler hit a three-run homer, all off Nabil Crismatt. It was Soler’s 25th.

Caratini then regained the lead for the Padres with a single against Chris Martin.

All three Padres homers were off Huascar Ynoa. Frazier hit a leadoff homer, his fifth, and Hosmer homered leading off the second, his 12th. Starting pitcher Vince Velasquez added an RBI groundout in the second.

The Braves tied it at 3 after consecutive RBI singles by Albies and Austin Riley in the third and an RBI single by Riley in the fifth.

Velasquez went three innings, allowing three runs, two earned, and three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Ynoa allowed seven runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, struck out six and walked none.

UP NEXT

The Braves hadn't announced a starter for Sunday's series wrapup. RHP Joe Musgrove (11-9, 3.15 ERA) will start for the Padres in their home finale.

Kelly, lowly D-Backs rally past NL East-leading Braves 6-4

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 22:07:01 -0400

Carson Kelly hit a tying three-run homer in a five-run seventh inning, Daulton Varsho followed with a go-ahead double and the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks beat the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves 6-4 Thursday.

Seeking its fourth straight division title, Atlanta saw its lead cut to 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia, which played Pittsburgh later Thursday. The Braves had won four straight games.

"You have go have a short memory," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "We came in here to win the series and we did that."

Arizona, which began the day tied with Baltimore for the major leagues' worst record at 48-104, announced before the game that Arizona manager Torey Lovullo was given a one-year contract extension through 2022.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"In a game we were getting pushed around my their starting pitcher, we withstood the strain," Lovullo said. "They fight. They unite. They stay focused."

Austin Riley homered for the third straight game as the Braves took a 3-0 lead off Madison Bumgarner with a three-run third. Dansby Swanson’s sacrifice fly boosted the lead to 4-1 in the sixth.

Josh VanMeter and Ildemaro Vargas singled to open the seventh off Charlie Morton, Jacob Webb (5-4) relieved and Kelly hit his second pitch for a 376-foot homer to left field, his 12th this season.

Pinch-hitter Kole Calhoun and Varsho followed with doubles, Tyler Matzek relieved and pinch-hitter Henry Ramos' sacrifice fly padded the lead.

"Today I just didn’t have my stuff," Webb said. "It doesn’t make it easier, but you have to bounce back."

Morton gave up three runs, five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts and two walks in his third start since signing a $22 million contract for 2022, a deal that includes a $22 million option for 2023. He has given up as many as four runs only once in his last 14 starts.

Bumgarner, who no-hit the Braves in a 7-0, seven-inning victory April 25, gave up three runs and five hits in five innings, with five strikeouts and two walks.

Sean Poppen (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh inning for his first major league victory. J.B. Wendelken pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.

NO-NO GONE EARLY

Travis d’Arnaud lined Bumgarner’s 24th pitch for a single to left field with two outs in the second inning, halting Bumgarner’s no-hit steak against Atlanta at 8 2/3 innings. Bumgarner's April win is not classified as a no-hitter because it lasted only seven innings under pandemic rules.

FOUR OF A KIND

Atlanta hitters Jorge Soler, Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley combined for four hits, six runs and six RBIs while hitting 1-4 in all four games of the series Thursday

The quartet accounted for seven homers, 21 runs and 22 RBIs in the four-game series. Riley had three homers and Albies had two.

ON FURTHER REVIEW

Albies’ RBI double in third inning was upheld after a video review. Replays showed that a fan reached over the left field fence and touched the ball with his hands as David Peralta attempted to make the catch, but the hit stood.

Albies got his 101st RBI a day after he became the youngest second baseman in major league history with a 30-homer, 100-RBI season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: Adam Duvall left the game in the last of the seventh, when Eddie Rosario took over in right field.

Diamondbacks: SS Nick Ahmed (right shoulder soreness) missed his sixth straight start/game but was available off the bench, Lovullo said. … 1B Seth Beer (left shoulder) underwent surgery to address instability in the joint.

UP NEXT

Atlanta will play twice in San Diego on Friday, first finishing a July 21 game that was suspended after a lengthy rain delay in Atlanta with the Padres leading 5-4 entering the top of the sixth. Left-hander Max Fried (12-7) is to start the regularly scheduled game.

Arizona RHP Humberto Castellanos (2-1) will oppose Los Angeles RHP Tony Gonsolin (3-1) in the opener of a three-game series at Chase Field. The Dodgers have won 14 of 16 in the season series.

NL East-leading Braves overcome Duvall's lost HR in victory

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:27:42 -0400

Adam Duvall lost a home run to a baserunning miscue, but Atlanta rebounded with homers by Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman and the Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2 on Wednesday night.

Ian Anderson pitched two-hit ball in six-plus innings as Atlanta (80-70) won its fifth straight and maintained its three-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East with 12 games remaining.

The Braves got to Merrill Kelly for three runs in the first — and that could have been four, except Duvall passed Riley between first and second after his deep drive to left-center tipped the glove of Arizona center fielder Jake McCarthy and went over the wall.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Kelly (7-11) walked leadoff man Jorge Soler, and Freeman followed with a double. Albies hit a sacrifice fly to left and Riley beat out an infield hit with Freeman advancing to third.

Duvall then hit what appeared to be his 38th homer of the season. But Riley, thinking McCarthy had the ball in his glove, retreated to first base as Duvall passed him between first and second. Duvall was ruled out at second on what’s known as a "runner’s fielder’s choice." Freeman and Riley scored on the play to give Duvall 109 RBIs this season, which leads the National League.

"I wasn’t sure he didn’t catch it," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "You may be making the right play, but if the guy in front of you doesn’t, you’ve got to be aware of it. It’s not a bad rule at all."

Albies became the third player to reach 30 home runs for the Braves this season, joining Riley (31) and Freeman (31). Duvall has 15 with the Braves since being acquired from Miami in July. He also became the first second baseman age 24 or younger to hit 30 home runs and record 100 RBIs in a season.

"It’s very special," Albies said.

Snitker credited Albies' preparation.

"Ozzie’s that boring pro," Snitker said. "Comes to work, his attitude is off the charts. He brings the energy every day. He never has a bad day."

Duvall also singled off the wall in left in the eighth, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. The call was appealed, but upheld on replay review.

Riley homered to deep left-center with two out and no one on in the third for his 31st of the season. Freeman doubled with two out in the fifth, and Albies homered to right, making it 6-1.

Anderson (8-5) didn’t need much support. He gave up a run in the first inning when Kole Calhoun doubled in Ketel Marte, who had walked. But after Christian Walker’s leadoff single in the second, Anderson didn’t allow another baserunner in his seven innings. He struck out eight.

Walker greeted Atlanta reliever Chris Martin with a home run, his ninth, in the bottom of the eighth. That ended a streak of 17 consecutive Arizona batters retired.

Freeman’s homer came in the ninth, when Atlanta scored three times against Tyler Clippard. William Contreras singled with one out, went to third on Joc Pederson’s pinch-hit double and came home on Soler’s sacrifice fly. Freeman followed with a deep blast toward the pool in right-center.

Kelly lasted six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out seven. He was charged with six runs. The Diamondbacks (48-104) are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the worst record in the majors.

WAY, WAY BACK

Baseball historians might point out that Duvall is not the only Braves hitter to ever lose a three-run homer because of a baserunning mistake.

Back in 1959, Harvey Haddix of the Pirates took a perfect game into the 13th inning against the Milwaukee Braves at old County Stadium. With the score 0-0, an error put the Braves’ leadoff man on base, ending the perfecto, and Hank Aaron was intentionally walked with one out.

Slugger Joe Adcock then hit a drive over the fence for an apparent three-run homer. Aaron, however, thought the ball was still in play -- when he saw the runner ahead of him score, he trotted off the field. Adcock, meanwhile, rounded the bases.

The umpires counted Adcock’s homer and said the final score was 2-0. NL President Warren Giles later ruled Adcock should only be credited with a double and made it a 1-0 final.

SMITH RETURNS

Caleb Smith returned to the active roster for Arizona on Wednesday following his 10-game suspension. The left-hander was ejected for having a substance on his glove in a game in Phoenix against the Phillies on Aug. 18. Smith appealed the suspension, but it was upheld earlier this month.

Smith pitched two innings, giving up one hit and two walks while striking out one. He was the second major league pitcher to be suspended since the crackdown on banned substances earlier this season. Seattle’s Hector Santiago drew the first 10-game penalty.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: SS Nick Ahmed (sore right shoulder) didn’t start again, but Lovullo said he would be available if needed. Josh Rojas replaced Ahmed at short with Ketel Marte playing second base.

"He has some inflammation," Lovullo said. "Just trying to get that down, give him another day."

BRAVES MOVES

Before Wednesday’s game, the Braves recalled IF Orlando Arcia from Triple-A Gwinnett, selected LHP Dylan Lee. They replace RHPs Edgar Santana (paternity list) and Touki Toussaint (bereavement list).

NEXT

The Braves go for a sweep of the four-game series at Chase Field on Thursday afternoon. Atlanta sends Charlie Morton (13-6, 3.49) to face Arizona’s Madison Bumgarner (7-10, 4.56).

Albies, Freeman go deep in 7th, Braves win series over Miami

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 22:07:05 -0400

Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman each hit a solo homer off Anthony Bass in the seventh inning, Eddie Rosario went deep off Edward Cabrera in the fourth, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Sunday.

The division-leading Braves, going for their fourth consecutive title, padded their lead to 4½ games over Philadelphia.

Miami, far back in the division standings and playing the role of spoiler, had won two consecutive series against the Phillies and New York Mets before coming up short against Atlanta.

Rosario went deep for the 10th time to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Cabrera left the game with right big toe soreness after Rosario homered.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Albies connected for the 28th time, sending a fastball into the right-field seats to make it 4-3. Freeman, on his 32nd birthday, followed two batters later with his 30th homer, an opposite-field shot to left.

"He hit his birthday blast," Albies said. "Right away when he got to the dugout everybody was singing ‘Happy birthday to you.' Homers are fun. I think that's why everybody celebrates them."

The Braves, who rank second in the NL in homers, tacked on a run to take a 3-1 lead in the fifth when Jorge Soler doubled to left and scored on Travis d’Arnaud’s single to left.

"I don't know that anything is going to top last year, quite honestly," Braves manager Brian Snitker said when asked to compare this year's lineup to the last two. "That's about as good as I've ever been around. ... I think they're all just into the fact that we could do something here."

Jacob Webb (4-2) faced the minimum in the seventh to earn the win. Bass (3-8) gave up two runs and two hits.

In the ninth, closer Will Smith allowed a leadoff triple to Jesús Sánchez and issued a one-out walk to Isan Diaz before retiring Alex Jackson on popup and Eddy Alvarez on a groundout to earn his 32nd save in 37 chances.

Braves starter Max Fried ran into trouble in the sixth. Lewin Diaz led off with his first career triple and scored on Miguel Rojas’ single. Fried was charged with a fielding error on Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s sacrifice bunt and gave up Sánchez’s RBI single to make it 3-all.

"I feel like we bounced right back into that game," Miami manager Don Mattingly said. "We get it to 3-3, Richard gives us a good inning that gives us another chance to score and obviously Albies and Freddie get us."

Fried allowed three runs and four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in six innings. He had gone 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA in his first 10 career starts against Miami.

Cabrera, who made his fourth career start, allowed two runs and three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Sánchez gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the second with his third homer of the series and 10th overall, a 460-foot shot to center with an exit velocity of 112 mph.

"This kid is as strong as an ox," Mattingly said. "When he hits ’em, they go. He’s one of those guys, in our ballpark, it doesn’t really matter. His power is big. The ball he hit the other night was more of a line drive for him, and it ends up going in the seats out there. This kid has big-time power."

Cabrera escaped a jam in the second with two runners on by striking out Rosario. He stranded runners at first and third in the third with a strikeout of Austin Riley.

SERIES WIN

The Braves improved to 23-15-8 in series play this season. They have won five of their last six home series. Atlanta has taken five of the last six games against Miami. After losing five of the first six to the Marlins this season, the Braves are 10-3 since. They improved to 11-4 overall in rubber games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins C-OF Jorge Alfaro was not in the lineup after leaving Saturday’s win with left calf tightness. Mattingly said it was too early to tell when he can return.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara (8-13, 3.24 ERA) will face a yet-to-be-determined Nationals starter when Miami begins a three-game series at Washington. Alcantara struck out a career-high 14 batters in the Marlins’ home victory Wednesday against the Mets.

Braves: RHP Touki Toussaint (3-2, 4.11) will pitch opposite RHP Jon Gray (7-10, 4.18) on Tuesday when Atlanta and Colorado open a three-game series. Toussaint received no decision after allowing five runs — four earned — in three innings of the Braves’ 6-5 win at Colorado on Sept. 2.

Latest Ozzie Albies News | ӣ����Ƶ

Atlanta's road dominance and history against Sandy Alcantara make them the play vs. Miami Marlins

Ozzie Albies' career numbers against Kyle Freeland make him the key player prop in Braves-Rockies clash

Shohei Ohtani lifts Dodgers to historic 8-0 start with walk-off homer

Austin Riley's clutch homer, crazy game-ending double play lifts Braves over Phillies, ties NLDS

Braves rally behind Ozzie Albies' clutch three-run home run in win over Brewers

Braves' Brian Snitker ejected following animated argument with umpires

Braves infielder breaks finger one day after returning from broken foot

Orlando Arcia's 2-run homer in 9th lifts Braves over Red Sox

Joe Musgrove, Manny Machado lead Padres to win over Braves

Marcell Ozuna, Ozzie Albies power Braves' offense in rout of Nationals

Maikel Franco has 4 hits, drives in 5 as Nationals trounce Braves

Braves win World Series thanks to power, pitching in Game 6

Astros fight back from early Braves grand slam, force Game 6

World Series: Braves take Game 1 with hot start, lose Charlie Morton

Braves' Eddie Rosario delivers game-winning hit, Atlanta takes 2-0 NLCS lead

Braves' Austin Riley stuns Dodgers with walk-off single in NLCS Game 1

Fried sharp, Braves blank Brewers 3-0 to tie NLDS at 1-all

Tellez HR, throw spark Brewers over Braves 2-1 in Game 1

Pederson, Contreras HRs power Braves past Mets 6-5

Nimmo 2 HRs, leads Megill, Mets over Braves 4-3

Fried, Riley power Braves past Phils; magic number down to 1

Soler, Braves win 10-8 in 10 innings to eliminate Padres

Kelly, lowly D-Backs rally past NL East-leading Braves 6-4

NL East-leading Braves overcome Duvall's lost HR in victory

Albies, Freeman go deep in 7th, Braves win series over Miami

Latest Ozzie Albies News | ӣ��Ƶ