Marcell Ozuna smacked his eighth homer, leading the major leagues, while Orlando Arcia’s RBI single in the 10th inning clinched a 5-4 victory for the Atlanta Braves over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
This win wraps up a three-game sweep of the Astros and marks Atlanta’s fourth consecutive victory.
The Braves leveled the score at 4-4 with two runs in the eighth inning. Michael Harris II kicked off the 10th inning on second base as the automatic runner, and with one out, Seth Martinez (1-1) chose to intentionally walk Matt Olson.
Ozuna hit a line drive to right field, advancing Harris to third base. Arcia then hit a single to left field on a ground ball, bringing home Harris and putting the Braves in the lead.
Manager Brian Snitker praised Arcia’s composure in pressure situations. He said, “He stays calm and slows the game down and gives himself a chance.” Arcia has amassed five hits and five RBIs in his last three games.
Pinch-runner Jake Meyers stood on second base when Kyle Tucker walked with no outs in the 10th.
Meyers advanced to third on a fly out by Yainer Diaz, but Jeremy Peña grounded into a double play to conclude the game.
A.J. Minter (3-1) secured the final two outs in the ninth inning for the win, while Raisel Iglesias secured his fifth save.
Snitker praised his bullpen for their contribution to the team’s success in the series. He emphasized their ability to keep the game close and provide opportunities for the team to compete.
Current NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. hit his first home run of the season, helping the Braves secure the win.
Ozuna, who also leads the league with 23 RBIs, extended his hitting streak to 16 games, matching his career record and holding the longest active streak in the league.
Yordan Alvarez and Mauricio Dubón both hit home runs for the Astros, who now hold a 6-14 record and sit at the bottom of the AL West.
“As a team, we need to come together and improve our game and finish strong,” manager Joe Espada said. “We need to play better.” In the first inning, with one out, Alvarez hit a home run to left field, giving Houston a 1-0 lead.
Ozuna responded in the second inning with a 432-foot home run to left field, tying the game. Acuña’s home run in the fifth inning put the Braves ahead 2-1.
The Astros leveled the score in the fifth with an RBI single by Alex Bregman, followed by Kyle Tucker’s RBI double, giving them a 3-2 lead. Dubón’s first home run of the season, off Jesse Chavez in the sixth, extended Houston’s lead to 4-2.
Harris singled at the start of the seventh, followed by a ground-rule double by Austin Riley. Olson reached base, allowing Harris to score on a fielding error by first baseman José Abreu, tying the game at 3-all.
With one out in the inning, Riley scored on a sacrifice fly by Arcia, making it a 4-4 tie. Houston’s starter, J.P. France, allowed four hits and two runs in five innings, while Max Fried of the Braves gave up seven hits and three runs in five innings.
