San Francisco snapped Atlanta's dominant run as a relentless sixth-inning rally and Rafael Devers’ power hitting stifled Bryce Elder’s start, narrowing the Braves' lead in the division.
The Atlanta Braves had won seven games in a row coming into Monday evening’s makeup game against the San Francisco Giants.
Atlanta starter Bryce Elder got the ball for the Braves, coming into the game with a 4.50 ERA in the month of August. He threw six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 25.
Elder had the benefit of throwing through some shadows at Truist Park, giving him an advantage against Giants hitters, but Rafael Devers didn’t seem to mind the impaired vision as he slapped a home run deep to right field, for his third home run off Elder in the last two games he had faced him.
Atlanta was able to respond quickly, with Drake Baldwin doubling in the first inning and then advancing to third base on a fly ball by Ronald Acuna Jr. First baseman Matt Olson then hit a hard ground ball into the shift up the middle, scoring Baldwin.
Giants catcher Andrew Knizner doubled in the second inning, but after getting himself into a jam, Elder was able to mitigate the danger and retire San Francisco before they were able to get on the board in the second.
Braves outfielder Michael Harris struck back in the bottom of the second inning, hitting his 23rd home run to take a 2-1 lead. Elder was able to continue to get out of jams in the third inning, forcing weak ground balls.
Giants starter Anthony Molina really bore down after the Michael Harris home run, striking out the side in the fourth inning, which included five straight Ks going back to the third inning. The Giants capitalized on the momentum provided by Molina to tie the game at two in the fifth inning.
Bryce Eldridge singled, advancing Rafael Devers to third. Jonah Cox then pushed a bunt through the 3-4 hole to score Devers on a safety squeeze.
Atlanta responded to take the lead back 3-2 with back-to-back singles by Sean Murphy and Austin Riley. Then, Drake Baldwin blooped a single in front of left fielder Drew Gilbert.
Osleivis Basabe tied the game at three with a solo home run of his own in the sixth inning off Elder. Turner Hill had a huge two-run double to blow the game open in the sixth inning off reliever Dylan Lee. Bryce Eldridge then drove in another run on a single, giving the Giants a 6-3 lead.
Jonah Cox then followed his RBI bunt with a home run over the left-field fence for an insurance run, helping seal a 7-3 win for San Francisco.
Atlanta fell to 82-56 on the season and now leads the NL East by four games over the Philadelphia Phillies.
