Braves Recap: Michael Harris II walks it off in extras to give Atlanta series win

The Atlanta Braves once again went toe to toe with the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon. It was yet another showcase of the great talent both teams possess. Offensive firepower, great pitching, and a lot of fun. It took extra innings to decide the winner of this contest.

Matt Olson got things started early for Atlanta with a solo homer to give them the lead. Unfortunately, that's all of the runs the Braves could muster through nine innings. Atlanta was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position as Tyler Wells was able to hold them at bay for the most part after that Olson homer.

Bryce Elder pitched fairly well for Atlanta and allowed just one run to the Orioles in the fourth inning on a ground out that scored the runner from third. There were no outs in the inning at that point so the Braves traded the out for the run. Elder finished the day after 5.1 innings with one run on four hits. He struggled a bit with command as he walked four batters but also struck out four as well.

After this, neither team could seem to take advantage of runners in scoring position as each bullpen was able to hold their opponents at bay. McHugh, Lee, and Iglesias covered the remaining 3.2 innings with relative ease. Those three combined allowed no runs, no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts. The walk and all three strikeouts coming from McHugh's outing.

After Iglesias' impressive outing, the offense was unable to to get any runs across for a walk off win. Jesse Chavez was then brought in for the top of the tenth where each team starts the inning with a runner at second. Chavez allowed a single to Anthony Santander that scored the go-ahead run from second base on the first pitch he saw. Chavez, however was able to escape after that with no more damage.

The Braves answered back in the bottom of the tenth after Marcel Ozuna put a ball in play to advance Sam Hilliard to third base. Hilliard would then score on a wild pitch from Orioles reliever Felix Bautista. Unfortunately, Atlanta was unable to score another run in that tenth inning and we moved on to the eleventh.

Michael Tonkin checked in for Atlanta next and he got Adam Frazier to fly out to right field and Austin Hays tagged up at second base to advance to third. Unfortunately for Hays, he tested the arm of Ronald Acuna Jr. who threw a seed to Austin Riley at third base to double up Hays. Tonkin then struck out Ramon Urias to end the top of the eleventh.

We reached the bottom of the eleventh and Ronald Acuna Jr was unable to advance the runner to third as he grounded out. The Orioles then intentionally walked Matt Olson to pitch to Austin Riley, who then struck out. Riley was 0-for-5 on the day and really struggled at the plate. Ozzie Albies would then strike out to leave two more runners stranded on the bases.

Michael Tonkin continued on the mound in the twelfth inning for the Braves. Tonkin got the Orioles in order in the top half of the inning and finished his day after two innings of work with no runs on no hits with one strikeout. Kevin Pillar checked in to pinch-hit for Sam Hilliard and struck out in his at-bat.

This was then followed by an intentional walk of Marcel Ozuna and gave the Braves runners at first and second. Michael Harris II came to the plate and walked it off for Atlanta with a double to left-center field. Harris was hitting the ball hard all day and driving it out to the outfield but couldn't get them to fall until that hit in the bottom of the 12th inning.

This was such an exciting and fun series to witness each and every night. Atlanta is now 24-11 and that ties them for the best start in franchise history. The Braves will have an off-day on Monday before welcoming the Red Sox to town on Tuesday for a two-game series. The Red Sox are one of the hottest teams in baseball so fans are in for another fun series.