On Friday night, the Atlanta Braves (now 43-53 overall) were back from the All-Star break, and waiting for them at Truist Park were the New York Yankees (53-44 overall). The two teams don’t meet enough to be considered rivals, but they have played in enough meaningful games, including in the World Series, to make every series matter.
The Braves defeated the Yankees 7-3 to remain undefeated at Truist Park against teams from New York City.
The Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Matt Olson doubled down the right field line to bring home Jurickson Profar, who was able to score from first base. Profar singled off Yankee starter Ian Hamilton to start the game. Ronald Acuna, Jr., batting third, also doubled down the right field line, and Olson scored from second base.
The three-run first inning was one of Atlanta’s best starts to a home game in months. Moving Acuna to the third spot in the lineup will also give him more opportunities for RBIs. Coming into the game, Acuna only had 22 RBI after having led off every game this season until the series in St. Louis last week. In the second inning, Acuna had another opportunity to drive in some runs with Profar and Olson on first and second base and two outs. He grounded out instead.
Between the second inning, the Braves played a “Welcome Back” video for former starter and World Series champion Max Fried.
Michael Harris II caught a deep fly from Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe in the second inning. Volpe is hitting just over .200 and would have had a double at the very least, but Harris tracked the ball down to the center field wall to make the third out of the inning. Harris (.210 with 6 HRs, and 44 RBI) isn’t hitting well of late, but his glove in center is invaluable to this team. Harris finished the game 1-4 with a single.
In the third inning, Acuna had a putout from deep in right field that caused both Yankees and Braves in their respective dugouts to question what they just saw. The flat-footed throw to third base caught the base runner, Trent Grisham, by surprise, too.
In the very next half-inning, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies added to his RBI tally with a three-run home run that gave Atlanta a 6-0 lead. Earlier in the game, his sac-fly brought in a run in the first inning. That gave Albies four RBI in less than half a game.
The run support was more than enough for Friday’s starter for Atlanta, Spencer Strider, who didn’t allow a run through six innings. Strider struck out three Yankees twice in that span, including all-star right fielder Aaron Judge. Strider’s night, eight strikeouts and three hits allowed, was done after six innings.
Coming to the plate with a double, a triple, and an RBI in hand, Acuna walked in the 6th inning. Yankees relief pitcher JT Brubaker had Acuna behind in the count, and after the Braves’ all-star outfielder fouled off four consecutive pitches, Brubaker walked him. Acuna has become one of the hardest players to strike out in baseball.
Braves pitcher Aaron Bummer came out of the bullpen in the seventh inning and, after giving up two hits to Ben Rice and Austin Wells, gave up a two-run two-out double down the left field line to Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton was pinch-hitting for Yankees third baseman Jorbit Vivas. Dylan Lee came in for Bummer with two outs in the same inning and proceeded to give up an RBI single to Cody Bellinger. The Yankees pulled closer at 7-3 with Judge at the plate and two runners on base, before Lee struck him out to finally end the inning. Judge, who came into the game hitting .355 with 35 home runs and 81 RBI, had three strikeouts on the night.
Atlanta’s bullpen has been an issue the entire season. Pierce Johnson came out of the bullpen to start the eighth inning and struck out two of the four Yankees he faced, without giving up a run. Raisel Iglesias closed out the game for Atlanta in the ninth inning.
