Offense and Spencer Strider shine against Yankees

The Braves had one of their most complete games of the season

The Atlanta Braves took on the New York Yankees tonight and the key was clearly that the offense had to show up since the Yankees’ bats have been on fire all season long. With Spencer Strider on the mound, the Braves had a legitimate shot to win if their bats showed up.

Strider did not start the game with a clean inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Trent Grisham. With the way the season is going, that almost seemed like a sign of how the game was going to go. Fortunately, Strider settled in and got Cody Bellinger to fly out and then followed that up with back-to-back strikeouts to Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr.

The Braves came out swinging in their half of the first. Profar had a leadoff single of his own and then Olson and Acuña Jr. had back-to-back doubles to make the score 2-0. Drake Baldwin then flew out and it allowed Acuña Jr. to advance to third. Murphy drew a walk and then Albies was able to add to the damage with a sac fly to make the score 3-0. Alvarez grounded out to end the first, but the Braves were on to a great start.

Strider did not slow down in the second inning. He struck out the first to hitters and then sat down Volpe on a play to center field where Michael Harris showed just how valuable his glove is on a running play to the wall.

Ian Hamilton, who pitched the first inning for the Yankees was replaced with Rico Garcia. Harris and Allen were sat down in the second inning, but it looked like the Braves may get something going when Profar and Olson both walked. Acuña grounded out to end the second.

Spencer Strider got into some trouble in the third inning. He struck out Austin Wells, but then he gave up two walks in a row. Strider then gave up a long fly ball to Acuña, who made one of the best throws of the year to throw out the runner on third. It was such a good throw, they didn’t even slide.

The Braves continued their offensive spark in the third inning. After Baldwin singled and Murphy doubled, Albies recorded his second, third, and fourth RBI on one swing. It was a no doubter.

The bottom of the lineup was sat down in order, but the damage was done. It sure was nice seeing Albies being clutch.

Aaron Judge singled to lead off the fourth inning, but Strider was able to maintain his focus and sit down the next three hitter s while picking up another strikeouts along the way. The Braves did not slow down in the fourth. Profar and Olson were sat down but then Acuña tripled and then was followed by Baldwin singling him in to make the score 7-0. Murphy grounded out, but again, the Braves had added more insurance.

Strider got into trouble a bit again by giving up another walk. With Volpe on first Strider was able to strikeout Wells, but then Vivas singled to put two runners on with one out. Fortunately, Strider was able to get Grisham ground into a double play to end the top of the inning.

Harris singled in the fifth, but that was the extent of the offense for the Braves. Strider stayed out to pitch the sixth and got the job done. He sat down all three hitters to include reigning MVP Aaron Judge.

New Yankee JT Brubaker came in and got Profar to groundout, and Olson to strikeout. Acuña drew a walk but then Baldwin lined out. Aaron Bummer replaced Strider in the seventh. Strider ended his night with eight strikeouts to three walks and three hits while allowing zero runs.

Bummer did not pick up where Strider left off. After producing a groundout he gave up a double to Ben Rice. He struck out Volpe but then Wells singled to put runners on the corners. Stanton then came in to pinch hit for Vivas and channeled his former self and hit a two run double to make the score 7-2. In a shocking turn of events Nick Allen actually committed an error that allowed Stanton to move to third. Peraza then pinch run for Stanton and then Lee replaced Bummer. Lee then gave up a walk to Grisham and then a single to Bellinger to make the score 7-3. Fortunately, Lee was able to stop the hemorrhaging of runs when struck out Judge. The Yankees best weapon had struck out three times to this point in the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Braves did not produce a runner. It was rare this game for the Braves not to have a base runner in an inning, which is refreshing.

Pierce Johnson came in to pitch the top of the eighth. Johnson got Chisholm to fly out deep to RF in a ball that looked like it was gone. Johnson then recorded a strikeout but then Ben Rice continued his hot night with a double. Volpe drew a full count, but Johnson was able to finish the job with a curveball up in the zone.

Brubaker stayed in the game for the Yankees to face Harris. Harris lined out to his CF counterpart. Allen then flied out to left followed by Profar striking out.

Raisel Iglesias came in to close out the game with a four run lead. He was able to get wells to pop up and then followed that up with a strikeout of pinch hitter Escarra. Iglesias then finished the job when Grisham flied out on the third pitch.

The offense showed up and Spencer Strider looked great. The Braves will take on the Yankees at the same time and same place tomorrow.