Orlando Arcia hit a two-run walkoff homer to give the Atlanta Braves a 5-3 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday to earn a split of their two-game series.
Ozzie Albies led off the ninth against reliever Ryan Brasier by poking a single to left field. After Adam Duvall flied out, Arcia delivered his first homer of the season into the left-field stands. It was his first homer since June 22, 2021 against Philadelphia and the first walkoff homer of his career.
The winning pitcher was Kenley Jansen (1-0), who worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning. It was his first win as a Brave. Brasier (0-1) took the loss.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi worked 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Atlanta’s Ian Anderson pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
The Red Sox got on the board in the second inning on a two-run homer by Trevor Story, his first since coming to Boston.
Boston made it 3-0 on an RBI single by J.D. Martinez, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games and on-base streak to 29 games, both the longest current streaks in the major leagues.
The Braves scored three to tie the game in the third. Travis Demeritte hit a two-run homer, his third, and Matt Olson plated another on an RBI double.
The Red Sox loaded the bases in the ninth, but Kevin Plawecki was called out on strikes to end the inning. Plawecki, who thought the pitch was low and well out of the strike zone, slammed his helmet in anger and was ejected by home plate umpire Adam Beck. Boston manager Alex Cora ran to the scene to argue and was also tossed, his second ejection of the season.
The Braves were without right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who sat out with a slight groin strain. Acuna was rested to help avoid a lingering injury.
–Field Level Media