Game Recap: Braves Take Series Against Angels Behind Offensive Explosion

Game Summary

Yonny Chirinos and Lucas Giolito squared off In an early afternoon rubber match between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels. The game remained scoreless until the third inning.

A groundball with eyes snuck through the middle of the infield for Orlando Arcia. Michael Harris followed that up with a single of his own, advacing Harris to 3rd.

With runners on the corners and one out, Ronald Acuna Jr. blasted his 25th homerun of the season over the center field wall to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

The Angels quickly responded with a Hunter Renfroe RBI single in the top half of the 4th inning, cutting the deficit to 3-1 and threating with runners on the corners. With one out in a two run game, Chirinos induced an inning ending double play ball from Eduardo Escobar.

Atlanta's offensive went right back to work in the bottom half of the 4th. Maybe an offesnive of explosion is a better description.

With one out, Eddie Rosario walked and Orlando Arcia was hit by a pitch. Michael Harris stepped in and continued his hitting spree. Harris lined a base hit to left field that score both Rosario and Arcia who advanced 90 feet on a past ball on the first pitch of Harris' at bat.

After an Acuna single that moved Harris to third, Ozzie Albies drove in a run with a sacrifice fly... but wait there's more.

Austin Riley blasted a 2-run homerun to give the Braves an 8-1 advantage. Matt Olson decided he wanted in on the fun and hit lined his 37th homerun of the season to go back-to-back and push the lead to 9-1 and chased Angels starter Lucas Giolito from the game.

Yonny Chirinos was dealing until the 6th inning. He surrendered back to back singles and was removed from the game for Michael Tonkin. He went 5 innings, allowed 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.

Tonkin walked the first man he faced, loading the bases with nobody out. C.J. Cron struck out for the first out of the inning. After a fielder's choice and a two run triple from Eduardo Escoar, the Braves escaped the top of the 6th with a 5 run lead and Chirinos still in line for the win.

The best offense in baseball decided that 9 runs was not enough. After rallying to load the bases with 2 outs, Travis d'Arnuad drove in two runs with a single to left field making it an 11-4 ball game.

As if an 11-4 lead was not comfortable enough, the Braves added to it in the bottom half of the 8th inning. Ronald Acuna wrapped up his afternoon at the plate by ripping a double and then scoring on another double from Ozzie Albies.

The Angels added one more run in the 9th off a RBI ground rule double from Zach Neto. This made the score 12-5 which held on to be the final.

Braves Bullpen

Outside of the walk and triple given up by Michael Tonkin, the Braves bullpen put on a solid performance. Tonkin went 1 inning allowing 1 run (2 runs given up in his appearance was charged to Chirinos) and striking out two.

Pierce Johnson had his fourth consecutive scoreless outing for the Braves going 1 inning and stirking out 1.

Kirby Yates also added a scoreless apperance in the 8th inning walking a batter and striking out 1 as well.

Collin McHugh was summoned in the 9th. The Angels did score one run with McHugh on the mound but it was unearned due to an error from Ozzie Albies that put the runner in scoring position. McHugh's final line on the afternoon: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER.

Pitchers Of Record

W: Yonny Chirinos (ATL) 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's

L: Lucas Giolito (LAA) 3.2 IP, 8 H, 9 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's

Homeruns

Acuna (25), Riley (25), Olson (37)

Next Game

Friday: August 4th @ Chicago Cubs 2:20 p.m. ET