Spencer Strider and the bullpen struggled again on Wednesday, but Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris II carried the day as the Atlanta Braves took down the Tigers by the score of 10-7 although it may have come at the cost of Jesse Chavez who was hurt during the game.
Things did not start well for Spencer Strider and the Braves. Reese Olson was getting quick innings for the Tigers while Detroit was teeing off on Strider whose velocity was at least one tick below what we have come to expect from him until recently. After the first two innings, the Braves were down 4-0 after home runs from Spencer Torkelson, Miguel Cabrera, and Eric Haase.
Things took a big turn for the better in the third, though, as Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a two run homer after Michael Harris II hit a one-out single. After Strider had a mercifully short third inning, the Braves broke out in the top of the fourth. After back to back one out walks, Orlando Arcia hit a RBI single and the Braves had runners on second and third thanks to an error. The Braves would tie the game on another Tigers error and promptly take the lead on a two-run double from Money Mike who came through yet again. Ronnie added another RBI to his total with a run scoring single and it was 7-4 Braves all of a sudden.
Ronnie gets the @Braves on the board‼️
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) June 14, 2023
𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡 on the year and it's a special one. pic.twitter.com/3H8ivu0GWr
Strider had a nice fourth inning as well, but found himself in deep trouble in the fifth as the bases were loaded with two outs after a pair of walks and a single. A wild pitch would score one run, but he would get the strikeout to end the inning with the Braves still leading. After five innings, Strider's day was done. Jesse Chavez would enter the game, but had to very quickly leave after getting hit by a comebacker in the leg and had to be helped off the field. It did not look good. So far, all we know is that X-rays were negative.
Jesse Chavez’s X-rays were negative. He’s getting further tests right now. It hit his left shin bone.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) June 14, 2023
Michael Harris II would get that run back in the top of the seventh with a solo homer that bounced of the left fielder's glove. Money Mike is amidst a torrid stretch after struggling mightily the first couple of months of the season.
The Braves would add a couple more runs in the eighth thanks to RBI singles from Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris II to make it a 10-5 Braves lead. Things got WAY too interesting again in the bottom of the ninth for Iglesias again, but he was able to secure the win.