It took an extra inning to come to an end, but Mike Yastrzemski had seen enough. His hit in the 10th inning sealed another win at Truist Park for the Atlanta Braves. Final score: Braves 3, Red Sox 2.
“I’m very happy to get it done at home,” Yastrzemski said of the game-winner. “I’m so fired up that’s the way it ended up.”
Specner Strider made his third start of the season on Friday night. Through four innings, Strider had thrown 62 pitches and was in full command of his pitches and the game. Unfortunately, just like Sale a night earlier, Strider walked off the mound without a win in hand.
The Braves got started early, giving Strider the run support they didn’t give Chris Sale the night before. Drake Baldwin hit a 704-foot solo home run off Red Sox starter Connelly Early. The Braves left two runners on base after going ahead 1-0. Last night, they were 0-7 with runners in scoring position.
In his second at-bat of the night, Michael Harris II gave Atlanta a 2-0 lead with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. The home run was Harris II’s eighth of the season and 24th RBI.
The Braves were finding ways to win the game on defense as well. Catcher Sandy Leon threw out a runner at second base in the fourth and fifth innings.
The bullpen has been good all season, but after Strider went 5.1 with four strikeouts and no earned runs, Dylan Lee came into the game to get the remaining two outs. He proceeded to give up a single to Mickey Gasper that scored Carlos Narvarez from third base to cut the Braves’ lead to 2-1. Tyler Kinley equaled his effort and gave up a solo home run to Red Sox second baseman Marcelo Mayer that tied the game in the seventh.
In the 9th inning, Raisel Iglesias saw a little traffic develop on the base paths after giving up a single and a walk. He found his way out after striking out Andruw Monasterio to end the inning. Didier Fuentes had to make an appearance in the 10th, something Braves manager Walt Weiss didn’t want to do with a long weekend ahead. The 20-year-old right-hander did his job and kept a clean house.
About the bullpen tonight, Weiss was complimentary despite the runs given up. “Everywin is a great win. I was hoping we’d score some more runs so we didn’t have to empty the tank,” he said.
Braves first baseman Matt Olson had a rough night, striking out three times. With a runner on first base, Braves third baseman Austin Riley also struck out to end the 8th inning. Boston left-hander Jovani Moran struck out both men that inning.
In the end, it doesn’t matter, the Braves won their 31st game of the season. The most in Major League Baseball.
Up Next: Saturday’s game is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. Bryce Elder (4-1 with a 1.81 ERA in nine starts) will make his 10th start of the season.
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