Sean Murphy hit a three-run homer and Matt Olson soon followed with a grand slam as the Atlanta Braves rallied for seven runs in the sixth inning and defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Wednesday to even their three-game series.
Murphy ended Atlanta’s 21-inning scoreless streak when he greeted reliever Ryan Zeferjahn with a long home run, his 12th. After the Braves loaded the bases, Olson smacked his 16th homer and ninth career grand slam.
Olson went 3-for-5 and extended his on-base streak to 32 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the major leagues.
Atlanta’s Jurickson Profar, who returned to the lineup after serving an 80-game suspension for violating the league’s banned substance policy, batted fifth in the lineup and hit a 413-foot homer to right field, his first.
LA’s Jorge Soler hit his ninth homer, a 448-foot bomb to left, and the 200th of his career in the ninth inning against Dylan Dodd.
The winning pitcher was reliever Aaron Bummer (1-1), who did not allow a hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Zeferjahn (5-2) took the loss. He failed to retire a batter and allowed five runs on four hits and two walks.
Neither starter received a decision.
Atlanta’s Didier Fuentes pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs — both in the first inning — on four hits, three walks and six strikeouts. LA’s Yusei Kikuchi worked 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on six hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Angels scored two runs in the first inning on Jo Adell’s two-out single, which drove in Nolan Schanuel and Taylor Ward. Adell has hit safely in 13 straight.
LA second baseman Christian Moore injured his hand while diving for a ball in the sixth inning and had to leave the game.
The Braves designated outfielder Alex Verdugo for assignment to make room for Profar. Verdugo, signed in the spring after Profar was suspended, batted .239 with 12 RBIs in 56 games with Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
