ATLANTA — Yordan Alvarez hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer with two outs within the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Friday night time in a matchup of the final two World Series champions.

With the rating 4-4, Alvarez pulled a cutter to right-center for his fifth dwelling run this season. Braves nearer A.J. Minter (0-1) gave up his first dwelling run this season.

“When the count got to 3-2, I knew he had to throw a pitch in the zone,” Alvarez mentioned. “I just tried to relax myself and wait for it.”

Hector Neris (1-1) earned the win with an ideal eighth inning for the 2022 champions. Ryan Pressley pitched round a one-out stroll within the ninth for his first save, hanging out Ronald Acuña Jr. with a person on and retiring Matt Olson on a game-ending groundout.

Houston erased a 4-1 deficit within the seventh towards Jesse Chavez, who had not allowed a run in 10 appearances this season. Yanier Diaz hit an RBI double and scored on Jake Meyers’ single, and Mauricio Dubón adopted with a run-scoring double.

Braves catcher Sean Murphy threw out Corey Julks making an attempt to steal third for the ultimate out of the eighth inning. Kevin Pillar made a diving backhand catch in left to rob Alex Bregman with with a runner on first base within the ninth.

PHOTOS: Alvarez lifts Astros over Braves in matchup of final 2 champs

Bregman and Jake Meyers each went 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Astros.

Atlanta’s Bryce Elder outpitched Hunter Brown and lowered his ERA to 1.14, holding Houston to an unearned run over six innings whereas hanging out six.

Brown had not given up an earned run in 14 innings coming into Friday, however gave up 4 within the first as he labored by a 29-pitch inning.

“I give him credit for keeping them at four,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned. “It was a great job by the bullpen and great job by the offense.”

Ozzie Albies had a two-out, two-run double, and Austin Riley and Vaughn Grissom additionally drove in runs. Acuña doubled twice, together with one main off the primary.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Michael Brantley will start a rehab task with Triple A Sugar Land on Sunday as he continues to get better from offseason shoulder surgical procedure.

Braves: None of the 4 injured regulars for the Braves have a particular return date. Reliever Collin McHugh (shoulder) threw three scoreless innings in a rehab look at Single A Rome. … Catcher Travis d’Arnaud (concussion) took batting apply for the primary time since happening the IL on April 9. … Center fielder Michael Harris II (again) did some mild working and hit off a tee. … Closer Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) threw a facet session.

DUBON KEEPS ROLLING

Dubon prolonged MLB’s longest energetic hitting streak to fifteen with a single within the fifth and completed 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He has changed Jose Altuve at second base after Altuve broke his thumb on the World Baseball Classic and is hitting .343 on the season.

“I’m very happy for him and everything he is doing,” Alvarez mentioned. “He deserves this.”

NEVER TOO EARLY

In addition to dealing with the first-place Braves, Houston will even tackle first-place Tampa Bay as a part of its six-game highway journey. Baker mentioned regardless of the calendar nonetheless studying April, he attaches some significance to those video games.

“It’s never too early,” he mentioned. “We want to win both series. These two teams are playing the best right now.”

The Astros had been excellent towards successful groups final season, compiling a 35-20 within the common season towards eventual playoff groups. They then stormed by the postseason with an 11-2 file en path to the World Series title.

TIDBITS

Acuna had his twelfth first-inning hit of the season in his twentieth recreation. … Brown matched a profession excessive with seven strikeouts. … The Braves had their fifth sellout in eight dwelling video games.

UP NEXT

Braves RHP Kyle Wright (0-0, 6.23 ERA) is scheduled to make his third begin of the season and confronted LHP Framber Valdez (1-2, 1.80) within the center recreation of the collection on Saturday night time.

Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com