May 21, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — Travis d'Arnaud singled off the left-field wall to drive home the winning run in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves, who scored twice in the ninth, rallied late to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 on Friday night.
After the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker said right-hander Spencer Strider will have an MRI on Saturday after complaining of discomfort in his elbow. Strider allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts in four innings, leaving his ERA at 7.00 after two starts.
“He was complaining about his elbow,” Snitker said. “He was uncomfortable with how it was feeling.”
Strider led the majors with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts in 2023.
The hit by d'Arnaud off Scott McCough (0-2) knocked in pinch-runner Forrest Wall from second base. Wall scored easily as d'Arnaud began celebrating after rounding first.
“Any comeback, especially in a home opener in front of a sellout, is a lot of fun,” d'Arnaud said.
Arizona led 5-2 after four innings and 5-3 before the Braves scored two runs off Kevin Ginkel in the ninth. Matt Olson’s double drove in Austin Riley, who reached on shortstop Blaze Alexander's fielding error. Pinch-hitter Jarred Kelenic’s bloop double to shallow left field drove in Olson to tie the game.
“We were in a really good position to win this game and we just didn’t execute,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “That’s really the bottom line. The Braves are a good team. When you give them extra outs in a key situation, they’re going to react accordingly.”
Olson also homered for Atlanta. Pierce Johnson (2-0) pitched a scoreless 10th.
Arizona left-hander Tommy Henry made a bid to keep his spot in the rotation by allowing two runs in five innings.
Henry's spot could be in question within two weeks. Jordan Montgomery, who agreed to a $25 million, one-year deal only days before the start of the season, is expected to be ready to make his Diamondbacks debut on April 19. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is on the 15-day injured list with a strained left shoulder.
Ketel Marte hit a leadoff homer against Strider, and Eugenio Suárez added a two-run double in a three-run first inning.
The Braves had a sellout crowd of 41,426.
