The Atlanta Braves got off to a booming start to their early-week series against the Miami Marlins. In the first two games on Monday and Tuesday, the Braves won by a combined margin of 18-4. However, the task was a bit taller on Wednesday night. Atlanta had to take on a familiar and extremely baffling opponent on the mound, Sandy Alcantara, who was pushed back into the series after suffering bicep problems over the weekend.
Sandy came into the matchup with a career 2.42 ERA against the Braves with 24 strikeouts in 22 innings. Things did not get off to a good start for the team, as the previously dazzling Bryce Elder ran into trouble. In the second inning, Jesus Sanchez took Elder deep, which was followed up in the third by a Jazz Chisholm blast to straightaway center. Bryce was chased in the sixth after another bomb from Avisail Garcia in the fourth, and a walk to load the bases in the sixth.
Michael Tonkin came in and was stellar. He did allow one of the inherited runners to score, but he mitigated the damage and kept the Braves in striking distance. The Braves got on the board with a Ronald Acuña Jr. bomb to left center, continuing his scorching start to 2023. With two outs in the frame, Baughn Vaughn Grissom singled to drive in Austin Riley, making it a 4-2 game. The Braves best magic came in their final trip to the plate in the eighth inning.
Matt Olson started things off with a solo shot to right field off of Dylan Floro, who had yet to allow a run this season. After that, Sean Murphy legged out an infield single, Eddie Rosario tripled, and Vaughn Grissom once again singled home a run. To cap things off, Floro made an errant throw home on an Ozuna tapper to make it 6-4.
AJ Minter came in to shut the door, and the Braves took the series in Game 3, courtesy of a resilient 8th inning rally. The team will go for the sweep tomorrow at 12:20, with Kyle Wright on the hill. After dropping four straight following the conclusion of an 8-game winning streak, the Braves have started up a new streak of W’s, going for their fourth straight tomorrow with the Mets on the docket this weekend.
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Photo: John Adams/Icon Sportswire
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