Kyle Wright threw 5 scoreless innings but could not record an out in the 6th. The Astros put up 4 runs in that inning to clinch the weekend series and to move above .500 at 11- 10.
The Braves opened the scoring in the 4th with a Sean Murphy solo homer off Framber Valdez, but Yordan Alvarez kicked off the Astros 6th with a 2 run homer, and Kyle Tucker cashed in Vaughn Grissom‘s 2nd error of the game to add a two run homer of his own. Wright allowed 7 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts on 95 pitches.
Ozzie Albies brought the Braves back to 4 – 3 with a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 6th, but the Astros added a 5th run in the 7th off Kirby Yates. and another unearned run in the 9th after Albies could not corral a 2 out bouncer by Alvarez.
Some good news: Ronald Acuna Jr. went 2 for 4 and stole 3 bases, giving him 11 on the season. Michael Tonkin pitched 2 perfect innings in relief of Wright, striking out 2. Grissom’s errors both came handling fairly routine grounders, but he also had 2 hits. Marcell Ozuna put the ball in play all 3 times, and there remains a decent chance he will get another hit this season, or at least hit the ball into the outfield.
Perspective: the Braves are now 14 – 7 and retain a half game lead in the NL East. They look to salvage a game from the series on Sunday at 1:30; Max Fried vs. Cristian Javier scheduled.
I was at the game tonight. The boos after each of Ozuna’s 3 ground ball outs were so loud that I think he was pitch hit for in the 9th so the game wouldn’t end in a chorus of boos.
I know Ozuna didn’t want to fall off a cliff, but it’s hard to think of any baseball related reason to keep him at this point.
I think Ozuna has been hit unlucky. If some of those hits would have fallen, he could at least be batting .150 with an OPS approaching .500. Of course I don’t think any of his 4 hits or his 2 or 3 other “almost hits” have come with runners on base. All in all, he has not had a stellar year.