Andrew Knizner smashed a three-run homer, while Adolis García contributed a two-run blast as the Texas Rangers prevented a three-game sweep by defeating the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Sunday night.
Even though the Braves took an early 3-0 lead, the reigning World Series champions bounced back and halted Atlanta’s winning streak of six games.
Michael Lorenzen (2-0) managed to regain his composure after a shaky start, allowing three runs and three hits while striking out seven batters over six innings.
David Robertson pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, and Kirby Yates secured his third save by getting four outs.
“The homer was crucial for us to take the lead, but against such a strong lineup, it’s all about pitching and executing pitches for the rest of the game,” Knizner commented.
“Lorenzen, Robertson, and Yates did an excellent job. They were the ones who held it down for us.”
Marcell Ozuna hit his ninth homer of the season, leading the majors, with a three-run shot off Lorenzen in the first inning.
Braves rookie Darius Vines (1-1) allowed four runs and seven hits over five innings, striking out six and walking two. He was sent to the minors after the game.
Carter’s solo homer in the fourth inning and Knizner’s homer later in the same inning gave Texas a 4-3 lead. García’s homer off Tyler Matzek in the eighth inning extended their lead to 6-3.
Although the Braves managed to score a run in the bottom half, courtesy of García’s error in right field, the Rangers held on. Despite facing a challenging situation with two runners on and no outs, Robertson struck out Matt Olson and got Marcell Ozuna to pop out. Yates then entered and struck out Orlando Arcia to end the inning.
“Robertson did a fantastic job despite the pressure,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy praised. “He showed great composure against some tough hitters. I can’t emphasize enough how well he maintained his poise.”
