Field Level Media
Jul 10, 2018
Russell Martin drove in the go-ahead run in a five-run eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays took advantage of poor Atlanta defense and beat the host Braves 6-2 on Tuesday at SunTrust Park.
The rally began when Yangervis Solate's grounder rolled under the glove of Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson. Pinch-runner Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went to second when Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman couldn't handle a pickoff throw, then took third on Randal Grichuk's single.
Martin brought Gurriel home with a sharp single to left. Grichuk stole third and scored on Kevin Pillar's single. Aldemys Diaz doubled home two runs and Devon Travis added an RBI double, the Jays' fifth consecutive hit.
Atlanta third baseman Johan Camargo also had a fielding error, as the Braves' infield had three overall. The team's infielders had not committed an error since June 27.
The Toronto uprising came against A.J. Minter (3-2), who gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits in one-third of an inning, and Shane Carle, who allowed one run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The game began as a pitching duel between Atlanta's Julio Teheran and Toronto's Marcus Stroman.
Stroman (2-6) gave up only one run on six hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out five. It was a nice bounce-back start for Stroman, who allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Mets on July 4.
Teheran worked 6 2/3 innings before running out of gas after throwing 107 pitches. He allowed one run on three hits, one a home run, and three walks. He struck out five.
That home run came in the third inning when the Jays' Justin Smoak opened the scoring with a solo shot, his 13th home run of the season, into the visitor's bullpen in left-center.
The Braves tied the game 1-1 in the sixth. Ozzie Albies reached on a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third on an infield grounder. Kurt Suzuki knocked him in with a single to left.
Albies, who was 3-for-4, also scored in the eighth on Suzuki's infield groundout.
--Field Level Media