The Atlanta Braves will seek a second straight series sweep on Sunday afternoon when they conclude their three-game set against visiting San Francisco Giants.
Atlanta had its streak of shutouts snapped at three on Saturday after San Francisco’s LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a home run to lead off the game. Although the Giants struck first, the Braves provided the final shot in a 6-5 win on Eddie Rosario’s two-run homer in the eighth inning.
The victory marked the Braves’ fifth straight and eighth in the last nine games. It also guaranteed Atlanta its fourth straight series win.
The loss marked San Francisco’s third straight and 10th in the last 13 games.
“It’s challenging,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “Especially because, for the most part, we played good baseball. Played good defense, thought we caught the ball well, turned a double play or two.”
San Francisco also struck for 11 hits on Saturday, but ultimately it was not enough to overcome Atlanta. Rosario went 4-for-4, drove in three runs and scored twice to lead the Braves.
“It’s special,” Rosario told reporters via an interpreter. “I can’t help but feel grateful, and it really brings back a lot of memories from the postseason.”
Rosario was the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player on Atlanta’s run to the 2021 World Series title. He has three multiple-hit performances in his last five games.
Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a solo shot for his 28th homer of the season.
The duo will look to stay hot on Sunday against San Francisco right-hander Jakob Junis (3-3, 4.10 ERA).
Junis has operated primarily out of the bullpen, but Sunday will mark his second straight start and third of the season. He has yet to pitch more than four innings, a total he reached while striking out seven in his last start on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Junis’ only career appearance opposite Atlanta came in a loss on Sept. 13 of last season. He surrendered four runs on seven hits in five innings of the start.
Max Fried (4-1, 2.57) will take the mound for Atlanta in Sunday’s finale. The left-hander returned to the lineup on Aug. 4 from a three-month absence due to a left forearm strain.
Fried is 2-0 in three starts since his return. He gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings in his last start, an 11-3 victory Monday over the New York Yankees.
“The offense coming alive and really just blowing the thing open gave me an ability to just take a deep breath, relax and try to just compose myself to eat some innings,” Fried told reporters.
Fried is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) vs. the Giants. The most recent outing was a no-decision in June 2022, during which Fried struck out eight and gave up just one run over seven innings.
–Field Level Media
