ATLANTA — Astros starter Framber Valdez marvels at how proficient Yordan Álvarez is. He watched for the second consecutive evening as Álvarez delivered a giant blow towards the Atlanta Braves.
“Obviously, he’s having an excellent season,” Valdez stated by a translator. “He’s a great hitter, a power hitter, contact hitter. He’s a guy that saves us a ton and contributes to the team a ton and we know what he can do.”
Álvarez and Kyle Tucker every hit a two-run homer within the sixth inning off Kyle Wright, and Houston beat Atlanta 6-3 for its third straight victory on Saturday evening.
Álvarez’s sixth lengthy ball of the season got here one evening after he hit a go-ahead, two-run shot within the ninth inning for the decisive runs in a 6-4 win. Álvarez, who completed third within the AL MVP voting final 12 months for the World Series champion Astros, linked towards Wright on a 414-foot homer that sailed into the Chop House restaurant in proper discipline to make it 2-1.
After Braves rookie shortstop Vaughn Grissom dedicated his second error of the sport, Tucker went deep to middle, his ball going 410 toes for a 4-1 lead. It was his fifth homer.
“I was just trying to get something I could maybe do something with,” Tucker stated. “I didn’t feel too comfortable really yesterday or my first two at-bats today. Trying to use my legs a little more and get in more of a squat position. It helps me feel a little more comfortable up there.”
PHOTOS: Álvarez, Tucker go deep beat Braves for third straight win
Houston went up 5-3 within the eighth off Kirby Yates when Jeremy Peña singled, stole second and scored on Corey Julks’ single.
Valdez (2-2) gave up Sean Murphy’s fifth homer, a 424-foot shot to left discipline, to make it 1-0 within the fourth. He additionally allowed Ozzie Albies’ fifth lengthy ball, a two-run shot that went 421 toes to left and trimmed Houston’s result in 4-3 within the sixth.
Valdez, dealing with the Braves for the primary time within the common season, allowed eight hits, three runs, no walks and struck out 9 in seven innings. The lefty made two begins towards Atlanta within the 2021 World Series, permitting 10 runs and 12 hits in 4 2/3 mixed innings. He completed fifth within the AL Cy Young Award voting final 12 months.
Bryan Abreu confronted the minimal within the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Wright (0-1) gave up seven hits, one stroll and 4 runs – three earned – in 5 innings. He led the majors with 21 wins final 12 months, however began the season on the injured record with proper shoulder irritation.
“I expect every time I take the mound that we’re going to win,” Wright stated. “I’ve got to start pitching to that standard, so I’m happy with some of the things I’ve done but at the same time you’ve got to win and that’s what I want to do.”
STREAKING
Atlanta RF Ronald Acuña Jr. went 2 for 4 to boost his batting common to .378. He stole a career-high three bases and has 11 this season. He started the evening with 31 hits, tied for second-most within the majors. Acuña leads the majors with 13 hits to steer off a recreation after hitting a single within the first. … Houston 2B Mauricio Dubón singled within the ninth to increase the majors’ longest energetic hitting streak at a career-best 16. He got here round to attain on José Abreu’s RBI single off Joe Jiménez within the ninth. … Álvarez started the evening tied with the Mets’ Pete Alonso for the majors’ lead in RBIs with 23 and now has 25. Álvarez has reached safely in 19 straight video games, the longest streak within the AL.
ROUGH NIGHT
Grissom booted routine performs within the third and the sixth. He misplaced the job in spring coaching to veteran Orlando Arcia as a result of his protection was missing, however was known as up April 14 when Arcia went on the injured record. He has three errors in eight video games.
BOO BIRDS
Atlanta DH Marcell Ozuna was booed every time he grounded out within the third, the fifth and the seventh. His common dropped to .078. Ozuna hasn’t been favored by followers since getting arrested for DUI final 12 months in the course of the season and for home violence in the course of the earlier season. Sam Hilliard pinch hit for Ozuna within the ninth.
NEW DUDS
The Braves dropped to 0-2 when sporting their new Nike City Connect throwback uniforms, which pay tribute to the 1974 uniforms the staff wore when Hank Aaron hit his 715th homer to interrupt Babe Ruth’s file.
UP NEXT
Braves LHP Max Fried (1-0, 1.08 ERA) faces RHP Cristian Javier (2-0, 3.68 ERA) because the groups play the finale of a three-game collection.
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