The Atlanta Braves go for their first four-game road sweep over the San Francisco Giants in 68 years when the National League playoff contenders wrap up their season series Thursday afternoon.
Separated by just 1 1/2 games when they took the field Monday, the Braves entered the showdown series having lost seven of eight, while the Giants had won four of five to close the gap in the NL wild-card race.
However, extra-inning RBIs by Travis d’Arnaud on Monday and Tuesday and Michael Harris II’s first-inning grand slam on Wednesday have allowed Atlanta to run off three consecutive wins over San Francisco.
The last time a Braves team swept a four-game road series over the Giants, the visitors were representing Milwaukee and the set took place in New York over three days — including a doubleheader — in June 1956. It was so long ago, Hank Aaron was the Braves’ right fielder and Willie Mays the Giants’ center fielder.
Harris finished with a career-best five RBIs in the Braves’ 13-2 win on Wednesday, hitting his first career slam into McCovey Cove in his first game since June 14. He had been sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
“It kind of feels like the first day of school,” Harris said. “It feels like I haven’t seen them in a while. I’m just excited to be back.”
On the same night that Harris returned, Braves left fielder Jorge Soler (who began the season with the Giants) left in the fourth inning because of hamstring tightness. He will sit out on Thursday and is due to undergo an MRI exam.
Jarred Kelenic replaced Soler on Wednesday and joined the fun with a two-run double.
Kelenic, a left-handed hitter, figures to get the start on Thursday against Logan Webb (10-8, 3.32 ERA). The Giants right-hander has pitched brilliantly in his past three outings, going 3-0 with an 0.83 ERA. The Giants won those games 1-0, 4-1 and 3-1.
Webb limited the Braves to two runs over seven innings in a 4-2 win at Atlanta on July 4. The 27-year-old is 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves.
Kelenic went 1-for-4 and scored one of Atlanta’s two runs in the game Webb started last month.
Giants manager Bob Melvin remains confident in his squad even though it fell under .500 for the first time since Aug. 6.
“This team has had a way of bouncing back,” he said after the lopsided loss on Wednesday. “I don’t want to say anything is a ‘must’ game, but we need to get back to .500 (on Thursday), then get an off day and regroup.”
In order for that to happen, the Giants might have to do something they’ve never done before — beat Braves left-hander Max Fried (7-6, 3.56 ERA).
The 30-year-old didn’t pitch when the Giants won two of three in Atlanta last month. In eight career meetings against San Francisco, seven as a starter, he is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA.
Fried has not been effective in two starts since returning from the injured list after recovering from neuritis in his left forearm. He has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) and walked eight in just 8 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
