Austin Riley’s one-out single in the 10th inning drove in automatic runner Ronald Acuna Jr. with the winning run to give the Atlanta Braves a 3-2 victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Sunday in the rubber game of a three-game set between two division-leading teams.
A.J. Minter (5-1) was the winning pitcher. Emmanuel Clase (1-1) took the loss.
Base-running mistakes robbed the Guardians in the 10th. Steven Kwan, the automatic runner, was picked off at second base by Minter with one out, rendering Jose Ramirez’ ensuing single worthless. Ramirez was then thrown out trying to steal second base.
Neither starting pitcher received a decision. Cleveland’s Ben Lively pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed one run on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Atlanta’s Bryce Elder worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits, four walks and two strikeouts, with two wild pitches.
The Guardians scored in the third inning when Andres Gimenez lined a comebacker off Elder’s right ankle, allowing Bo Naylor to score. Elder walked three batters in the inning but escaped further damage when shortstop Orlando Arcia made a nice fielding play with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Cleveland made it 2-0 with a run in the fifth inning. Brayan Rocchio led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and hustled home on a wild pitch that bounced off the mitt of catcher Chadwick Tromp.
The Braves struck back in the fifth. Jarred Kelenic doubled and scored on Tromp’s single, knocking Lively out of the game.
Cleveland used Rocchio’s speed to get the run back in the seventh against reliever Aaron Bummer. Rocchio singled, stole second and scored on Kwan’s RBI single. But the rally ended with Kwan was picked off.
Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the first inning and added an RBI double in the eighth off reliever Hunter Gaddis, driving in Acuna. Albies went to third on
Riley’s long flyout and scored on Matt Olson’s broken-bat flair to right field to tie the game.
