Robbie Grossman drew a walk-off walk, and Austin Riley homered for his fourth straight game, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 win over the visiting Miami Marlins on Saturday night.
Working against reliever Steven Okert (5-2) in the ninth inning, Matt Olson singled and reached third on Michael Harris II’s one-out double. After Vaughn Grissom was intentionally walked and Travis d’Arnaud lined out, Grossman took a 3-1 pitch low.
Riley has 35 homers, two more than his previous career high of 33, which was set last year. His homer on Saturday was clocked at 112 mph, and it was his second four-game long-ball streak, having also accomplished the feat last season.
Neither rookie starter earned a decision.
Atlanta’s Bryce Elder tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits — both singles — and two walks, striking out six. It was just Elder’s seventh big-league appearance, and it was the first time he pitched scoreless ball.
Miami’s Edward Cabrera allowed just four hits and one run while striking out seven batters in five innings. However, he walked three batters, driving up his pitch count (98) and forcing his early exit.
Cabrera got in trouble in the first inning when he missed on eight straight pitches, issuing one-out walks to Dansby Swanson and Riley. But Cabrera recovered by getting Olson to ground into a double play.
In the second inning, Cabrera got Harris to ground into a double play. In the third, Cabrera allowed Marcell Ozuna’s leadoff double before getting the next three batters out, including two on strikes.
Atlanta finally opened the scoring in the fourth as leadoff batter Riley blasted his 439-foot bomb to left field. Riley pounced on a low 1-2 curve from Cabrera.
The Braves threatened in the seventh inning off reliever Richard Bleier. Grissom stroked a one-out double down the third base line, and then he stole third base. However, Bleier got two straight groundouts, including the first while playing the infield in against Ozuna.
Miami rallied in the ninth as its first two batters — Nick Fortes and Brian Anderson — singled off of Kenley Jansen. JJ Bleday then drew a full-count walk to load the bases, and Jerar Encarnacion followed by hitting a 107-mph line drive that resulted in a sacrifice fly to right, tying the score 1-1.
–Field Level Media