Astros vs. Braves – Game Recap – August 20, 2022 – ESPN

ATLANTA — — The very last thing Matt Olson needed to do was hit the ball.

Then he noticed it heading for a spot within the infield the place nobody was standing.

Typically, hit ‘em the place they ain’t works simply in addition to smacking it over the wall.

Olson’s check-swing double to left with the infield shifted the opposite approach introduced house the tying run within the eleventh for Atlanta, and p inch-hitter Travis d’Arnaud received it with a single by way of Houston’s drawn-in protection.

Rallying twice in further innings, the Braves beat the Astros 5-4 Saturday night time for his or her eleventh win in 12 video games.

The reigning World Collection champions are nonetheless three video games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets, however no workforce is enjoying with extra confidence than the Braves.

“We do not hand over till the final man,” d’Arnaud stated. “It is a contagious factor.”

The Astros scored two within the tenth, solely to have Atlanta match them within the backside half — with 21-year-old Michael Harris II offering the massive hit with an RBI double earlier than he got here round to attain on Robbie Grossman’s single by way of the shift.

Houston went again forward on Jeremy Peña’s gradual curler that introduced house the go-ahead run, however the Braves rallied once more.

This time, they ended it.

After Dansby Swanson was positioned at second base towards Ryne Stanek (1-1), Austin Riley walked. Olson tried to carry up his swing, however it worked out just fine when he despatched a run-scoring hit by way of the deserted shortstop gap.

“I used to be not comfortable to make contact,” Olson stated. “Then I noticed nobody was standing there. I really began laughing fairly shortly. Someway, I wind up with a double.”

With runners at second and third and no outs, the Astros deliberately walked William Contreras. However d’Arnaud lined one previous diving first baseman Yuri Gurriel to win it for the Braves.

“We’re enjoying some good baseball,” d’Arnaud stated.

Jackson Stephens (2-2) earned the win by giving up an unearned run within the eleventh.

“We fought, they fought,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker stated. “It was an excellent sport to look at it you are a fan.”

Each starters turned in sturdy performances, every going six innings and permitting solely a solo homer.

Cristian Javier pitched two-hit ball for the Astros however once more didn’t get a lot offensive help. Houston has been held to 2 runs or much less in 10 of his 23 begins, leaving him with a 7-8 file although his ERA dropped to 2.88.

Rookie Spencer Strider surrendered three hits, walked two and struck out 9 for the Braves. The rising reputation of the 23-year-old Strider, recognized for his thick mustache and 100 mph fastball, was evident from all of the the followers within the sellout crowd of 42,893 wearing fake ‘staches in his honor.

Atlanta’s Vaughn Grissom stored up his torrid hitting since being known as up from the minors lower than two weeks in the past.

The 21-year-old launched one into the Astros bullpen within the fifth, giving him three homers in his first 11 huge league video games.

Grissom’s homer got here after Peña went deep for Houston within the prime half of the inning to interrupt up the scoreless duel. The Astros shortstop drove one the other approach, the ball simply clearing the tall wall in proper area for his sixteenth homer of the season.

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez was again on the ballpark, at some point after shortness of breath led him to be taken to an Atlanta hospital for assessments.

Whereas medical doctors discovered no trigger for his respiratory issues, Houston held Alvarez out of the lineup Saturday and stored a detailed eye on him for any indicators of additional hassle.

Baker stated Alvarez might return to the lineup as a delegated hitter for the finale of the three-game sequence.

PITCHER’S DUEL

There was little indication of all of the drama to come back in further winnings.

By means of 9 innings, the groups had mixed with simply seven hits and 21 strikeouts.

“When runs are at a premium, you understand it may take a giant hit,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “They received some, we received yet one more.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros OF Mauricio Dubón wasn’t critically damage after crashing into the wall trying to make a catch within the fifth inning of Friday’s sport. Dubón was accessible Saturday however wasn’t used. “He is higher,” Baker stated. “He hit within the cage.”

UP NEXT

RH Charlie Morton (6-5, 4.04) will take the mound for the Braves in Sunday’s sequence finale. He’ll be opposed by RH José Urquidy (11-4, 3.69, who’s coming off 7 2/3 innings of one-hit ball in his final begin towards the White Sox. Urquidy has 10 consecutive high quality begins since June 14, going 6-1 with a 2.64 ERA over that span.

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Observe Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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