Game recap: Strider punches out 11, Murphy goes deep again in Braves win

The Atlanta Braves became the first team in baseball to reach 60 wins with their 6-1 victory tonight over Tampa Bay. They were backed by a strong outing from their All-Star pitcher Spencer Strider and another home run from their All-Star backstop.

The Rays had the first scoring chance of the night after two hits in the bottom of the first. Tampa Bay had runners on second and third with one out, but Strider was able to rally with back to back strikeouts of Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe.

Rookie Taj Bradley had a really impressive second inning in which he struck out the side in order. Not to be outdone, Strider also punched out the side in the second, doing so on just 11 pitches. Each of his strikeouts in that inning was via his fastball.

Strider got to seven consecutive strikeouts until he hit Wander Franco with a two-strike pitch. However, he did get the next batter to flyout to keep the game scoreless after three.

Atlanta got their first baserunner when Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the fourth inning with a double. Ozzie then drew a walk to put a couple runners on for Austin Riley. Unfortunately, Austin swung at a 3-1 pitch that looked to be out the zone and popped out.

Matt Olson picked him up though by lacing a 107.6 mph single to add to his MLB leading RBI total. Sean Murphy then got a cement mixer and deposited it deep into the left field seats for a three-run homer and 4-0 Braves lead. That home run made it the 25th straight game with a homer for the Braves, tying a franchise record.

Strider kept on cruising as he sat down the Rays in order in both the fourth and fifth inning. He was locating well and being very efficient as he got through five innings of two-hit baseball with just 70 pitches.

The Rays finally formed another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth after a single and a walk. However, Strider was having none of that as he stuck out Lowe on three pitches. That AB made the Rays 0 for their last 20 with RISP.

Javy Guerra came out for his second inning of relief in the seventh. He surrendered a ten-pitch walk to Ronald, but that’s the only baserunner Atlanta would get as Albies flew out to center to send it to the stretch.

Spencer went back out for the seventh but was pulled after giving up a single to Taylor Walls and climbing over 100 pitches. Kirby Yates came on and promptly got a pop out and strikeout on six pitches.

A.J. Minter came on for the eighth inning to take on the top of the Rays order. Unfortunately, Minter had to leave the game after one batter with an apparent injury. His last pitch was a 94 mph fastball, obviously not what we’re accustomed to with him.

In came former Rays reliever Ben Heller to continue the AB vs Wander Franco. That resulted in a walk and was followed by a wild play in which Franco scored from first on a groundout. Franco took third on the play because no one was covering third, and then scored after Olson threw over to a vacant area to try and nab Franco. Thankfully, the wildness was paired with just that one play as Heller got a flyout to end the eighth with the Braves leading 4-1.

Orlando Arcia singled with one out in the ninth and then scored on a wacky play for Tampa’s defense as a Wander Franco error allowed him to score all the way from first. Ronald would add an RBI single later on to make the score 6-1.

Once the Braves got to a five run lead they decided to call Colin McHugh for the final three outs. The former Ray made quick work with a 1-2-3 ninth inning and put the Braves’ 60th win on the season in the books.