Aug 14, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Atlanta Braves heart fielder Michael Harris II (second from left) and his teammates rejoice their victory over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Obligatory Credit score: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports activities The Atlanta Braves go for his or her first four-game highway sweep over the San Francisco Giants in 68 years when the Nationwide League playoff contenders wrap up their season sequence Thursday afternoon.
Separated by simply 1 1/2 video games after they took the sphere Monday, the Braves entered the showdown sequence having misplaced seven of eight, whereas the Giants had received 4 of 5 to shut the hole within the NL wild-card race.
Nevertheless, extra-inning RBIs by Travis d’Arnaud on Monday and Tuesday and Michael Harris II’s first-inning grand slam on Wednesday have allowed Atlanta to run off three consecutive wins over San Francisco.
The final time a Braves crew swept a four-game highway sequence over the Giants, the guests had been representing Milwaukee and the set happened in New York over three days — together with a doubleheader — in June 1956. It was so way back, Hank Aaron was the Braves’ proper fielder and Willie Mays the Giants’ heart fielder.
Harris completed with a career-best 5 RBIs within the Braves’ 13-2 win on Wednesday, hitting his first profession slam into McCovey Cove in his first recreation since June 14. He had been sidelined as a result of a hamstring harm.
“It seems like the primary day of college,” Harris mentioned. “It looks like I have not seen them shortly. I am simply excited to be again.”
On the identical night time that Harris returned, Braves left fielder Jorge Soler (who started the season with the Giants) left within the fourth inning due to hamstring tightness. He’ll sit out on Thursday and is because of bear an MRI examination.
Jarred Kelenic changed Soler on Wednesday and joined the enjoyable with a two-run double.
Kelenic, a left-handed hitter, figures to get the beginning on Thursday towards Logan Webb (10-8, 3.32 ERA). The Giants right-hander has pitched brilliantly in his previous three outings, going 3-0 with an 0.83 ERA. The Giants received these video games 1-0, 4-1 and 3-1.
Webb restricted the Braves to 2 runs over seven innings in a 4-2 win at Atlanta on July 4. The 27-year-old is 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA in seven profession begins towards the Braves.
Kelenic went 1-for-4 and scored one among Atlanta’s two runs within the recreation Webb began final month.
Giants supervisor Bob Melvin stays assured in his squad although it fell underneath .500 for the primary time since Aug. 6.
“This crew has had a means of bouncing again,” he mentioned after the lopsided loss on Wednesday. “I do not wish to say something is a ‘should’ recreation, however we have to get again to .500 (on Thursday), then get an off day and regroup.”
To ensure that that to occur, the Giants may need to do one thing they’ve by no means finished earlier than — beat Braves left-hander Max Fried (7-6, 3.56 ERA).
The 30-year-old did not pitch when the Giants received two of three in Atlanta final month. In eight profession conferences towards San Francisco, seven as a starter, he’s 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA.
Fried has not been efficient in two begins since coming back from the injured listing after recovering from neuritis in his left forearm. He has allowed 10 runs (9 earned) and walked eight in simply 8 1/3 innings.
–Discipline Stage Media
