May 5, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — Backed by three home runs and strong defense, Kyle Wright looked dominant while pitching eight innings for the first time in his career.
Against Oakland's struggling hitters, a complete game may have been possible.
Guillermo Heredia gave Atlanta the lead with a home run to lead off the seventh, Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two homers and the streaking Braves beat the reeling Oakland Athletics 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Wright (6-3) recovered from a rocky first inning to allow two runs in the longest start of his career.
“It felt great,” Wright said, adding, “I really wanted it.”
The Braves extended their season-best winning streak to six games.
Wright and closer Kenley Jansen, who pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save, combined to retire 17 consecutive batters to end the game.
The A’s suffered their seventh straight loss. After being held to five hits, the A's are hitting .165 with one homer and 12 runs in the losing streak.
Heredia pulled a pitch from Lou Trivino (1-4) over the left-field wall and into the Oakland bullpen to end a 2-2 tie. Acuña hit homers in the first and third innings off Cole Irvin.
Following his second shot, Acuña borrowed Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young's “Ice Trae” trademark celebration. Asked what he has planned for his next celebration, Acuña said through a translator, “I don't know what's going to be next but for the time being I'll stick with that one.”
Braves rookie Michael Harris II, sprinting from center field toward right field, reached out to snag a liner hit by Sean Murphy in the fifth, robbing Murphy of possible extra bases.
“After he made that catch, I felt there was nothing that was going to drop,” Wright said.
Former Braves center fielder Andruw Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, was spotted on the Bally’s telecast as he reacted to the catch with a look of surprise from the stands. Jones attended the game with his son Druw, an outfielder from the Atlanta area who is expected to be one of the top picks in the MLB draft on July 17.
The teams played for the first time since 2017. Oakland played its first game in Atlanta since 2014, when the Braves’ home was Turner Field.
Wright gave up three consecutive hits, including a two-run single by Ramón Laureano, to open the game. Wright then gave up only two hits in the next seven innings and finished with seven strikeouts and no walks.
“I was able to right the ship a little bit,” Wright said.
Irvin allowed two runs on seven hits, including the two homers by Acuña, in 5 1/3 innings.
