Braves Sweep Tigers Behind Ace’s Strong Start
With their eighth consecutive victory, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-2 to complete a sweep. After throwing five scoreless innings and striking out six, Spencer Strider won the victory. Drake Baldwin and Ronald Acuña Jr. also made significant contributions, and Ha-Seong Kim hit a home run and drove in two runs. Despite leaving numerous runners on base, Detroit was unable to rally after Casey Mize gave up three runs over five and a third innings. The Braves go home on a hot streak, but Detroit's AL Central advantage is reduced to just one game after the setback.
Strider got off to a solid start for Atlanta, keeping Detroit off the board early by striking out Parker Meadows in the first inning. Strider was matched by Mize, who held the Braves scoreless over the opening two innings. Atlanta made their breakthrough in the top of the third. The Braves led 1-0 after Matt Olson and Vidal Brujan both hit one out before Acuña Jr. stroked a two-out RBI single. On their side of the inning, Detroit made threats but was unable to react.
Atlanta led 2-0 after Kim hit a single home run off Mize over the left-center wall in the fourth inning. With two runners on and no outs in their half, Detroit posed a threat, but a double play saved them. The Braves scored another run in the fifth when Baldwin hit a two-out triple to drive Olson home after he took a walk and two outs were recorded. Strider ended the inning by striking out Spencer Torkelson, but Detroit had another chance late in the game with two-out doubles. In an attempt to rally, Detroit placed two runners on with one out in the sixth inning. To halt the threat and maintain the score at 3-0, the Braves turned to Dylan Lee, who first coaxed a foul pop to Jahmai Jones and then struck out a pinch hitter, Andy Ibáñez.
The Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, giving them a huge opportunity, but Tommy Kahnle stepped in and got Marcell Ozuna out to get out of the jam. Detroit got a little life on the eighth. Zach McKinstry doubled with two outs after Dillon Dingler singled to put runners in scoring position, but pinch-hitter Trey Sweeney came out to leave them stranded once more. Atlanta ended the game in the ninth. Ozzie Albies doubled in a run after Acuña Jr. and Baldwin both took walks. Michael Harris II finished a three-run inning with an RBI double, and Kim scored another with a sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 6-2.
