Braves Collect 19 Hits to Beat Cleveland 8-1

CLEVELAND (AP) — All-Stars Sean Murphy and Matt Olson homered as the Atlanta Braves bounced back from one of their rare losses over the past month by smashing the Cleveland Guardians 8-1 on Wednesday night.

Murphy hit a solo shot in the third inning off Cal Quantrill (2-6) and Olson hit a 428-foot blast in the ninth as the Braves collected 19 hits and took the series finale after their winning streak was stopped at nine on Tuesday.

Austin Riley also connected as the Braves homered in their 23rd straight game, baseball’s longest stretch of long balls this season. They lead the majors with 166 homers and are on pace to break the single-season record of 309 set by Minnesota in 2019.

Atlanta has won 18 of 20 and 25 of 29.

The Braves improved to 7-0 in rubber games — when a series is tied and up for grabs. The last team to go unbeaten in rubber games with as many overall wins was the 1994 Montreal Expos, who went 9-0.

The Guardians had plenty of chances, but couldn’t come up with timely hits and stranded 11 runners — two apiece in each of the first five innings. They finally pushed across a run with two outs in the ninth, earning a sarcastic cheer from their fans.

Braves starter Michael Soroka was staked to a 4-0 lead after one and was up 5-0 in the fifth. But the right-hander was pulled with two outs — after 99 pitches — and didn’t qualify for the win. He missed the past two seasons after tearing an Achilles tendon.

Michael Tonkin (5-2) relieved Soroka and worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

Quantrill allowed a career-high 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings, not what manager Terry Francona was looking for with his bullpen needing a break.

Categories: Sports – ATL Braves, Sports – Local Sports News