Solid pitching and explosive offense helps the Braves to their fifth straight win
Travis d’Arnaud homered three times and Chris Sale turned in another solid performance on the mound to help the Atlanta Braves to an 8-3 win over the Texas Rangers Friday night at Truist Park.
The Rangers jumped out to an early lead as Marcus Semien homered off of Sale to leadoff the game. Atlanta’s offense responded quickly though in the bottom half of the inning. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley both drew walks to put runners at first and second. Marcell Ozuna came through with a line drive single to tie the game at 1-1.
Stay hot, Marcell!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/X6lqvgDbxh
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 19, 2024
Atlanta notched another run in the second as Travis d’Arnaud launched his first home run of the season to put the Braves in front 2-1.
d’inger probability = #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/h8UUXYWX9D
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 20, 2024
d’Arnaud struck again in the fifth as he connected on another solo home run to push Atlanta’s lead to 3-1.
HE d’ID IT AGAIN!#LocalFordDealer | #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/srFjPdRDjy
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 20, 2024
The 3-1 lead would not stay intact long as the Rangers’ offense got things going in the sixth. Semien and Wyatt Langford both singled and then came around to score on a one-out double by Adolis Garcia that tied the game. Sale recovered and retired Jonah Heim on a fly out and then struck out Ezequiel Duran to end the inning.
The Braves offense got back to work in the home half of the inning. Matt Olson walked and then moved to second on a walk by Ozuna. With two outs, Michael Harris singled to right to load the bases. That would set the stage for d’Arnaud who connected on his third homer of the game for a grand slam to put the Braves in front 7-3.
GRAND SLAM!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/5ksuJ8PgaT
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 20, 2024
Sale came back out for the seventh and retired the side in order. He would exit having allowed five hits and three runs over seven innings. He struck out seven while throwing just 89 pitches.
Tyler Matzek held the Rangers scoreless in the eighth and then the Braves’ offense added another run with a solo home run by Harris to push the lead to 8-3.
Pay day @MoneyyyMikeee | #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/jaM8nTeCwV
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 20, 2024
Harris’ homer got d’Arnaud to the plate with a chance to make history, but he grounded out to end the inning. Pierce Johnson retired the side in order in the ninth to close things out.
With the win, the Braves improve to 13-5 on the season. They will go for another series win Saturday with Charlie Morton matching up against Texas righty Nathan Eovaldi.