Field Level Media
May 4, 2018
The San Francisco Giants combined a six-run outburst in the second inning with a solid start from Chris Stratton to beat the Atlanta Braves 9-4 and end Atlanta's five-game winning streak.
Stratton (3-2) was making his first career start against the Braves and allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out six and helped the Giants win for the fifth time in their last six games.
Most of Stratton's support came in the second inning, when the Giants plated six runs against Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (2-2). The right-hander gave up a season-high six runs on nine hits in five innings and lost for the first time since April 10. It was his first time allowing more than two earned runs in an outing this season.
The loss spoiled the Atlanta debut of former All-Star Jose Bautista, who started at third base and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He doubled in his first at-bat. Bautista, signed to a minor league contract last month, was promoted on Friday, with Preston Tucker being sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.
It was also the first home game for rookie Ronald Acuna Jr., who went 0-for-4 in his debut at a sold-out SunTrust Park.
Atlanta jumped on Stratton for two runs in the first on Freddie Freeman's home run, his fifth.
But San Francisco answered by scoring six times against Foltynewicz in the second. Gregor Blanco tripled home a pair and scored on Alen Hanson's double. Hanson scored on a fielder's choice after a tag play was overturned on a video review. Brandon Belt drove in a run with a double, and Evan Longoria got another run home with a ground ball.
The Braves cut the lead to 6-3 in the third when Nick Markakis hit a solo home run, his sixth.
San Francisco tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh inning on Brandon Crawford's two-run homer, his third, off reliever Jesse Biddle.
Atlanta got one run back in the seventh on Ozzie Albies' sacrifice fly.
The Giants added a solo homer from Longoria in the ninth, his seventh.
--Field Level Media