SAN FRANCISCO – The Braves left San Francisco with a win, defeating the MLB-best Giants 3-0 Sunday to snap a four-game skid and avoid a sweep.
Here are five takeaways from Sunday:
1. Left fielder Eddie Rosario hit for the cycle, the first of his career. He doubled in his first at-bat and tripled into the deepest park of Oracle Park in his second. He homered in the seventh to cap the Braves’ three-run frame. His ninth-inning single completed the cycle.
“I was so happy,” Rosario said. “I’ve tried before, came close in 2017 or 2018. I don’t remember. But I had the opportunity today and I did it.”
Rosario said his last cycle came in 2010 when he was in the Gulf Coast League. He made his major-league debut five years later.
It was the second cycle for the Braves this season after first baseman Freddie Freeman did so on Aug. 18. It was the fourth cycle in the majors in 2021. Then-Nationals shortstop Trea Turner and Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth also have hit for the cycle.
Rosario is the eighth player in Braves history to complete the cycle.
2. Rosario hit for the cycle while only seeing five pitches. That’s the fewest pitches seen during a cycle performance since at least 1900, according to MLB statistician Jeremy Frank. The previous low for pitches seen during a cycle was achieved by Neifi Perez, who saw eight pitches during his cycle on July 25, 1998. History upon history during Rosario’s day.
3. The Braves were shut out Saturday and held scoreless for the first six frames Sunday before outfielder Adam Duvall came through. Duvall smacked a two-run homer off Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani, who was excellent until Duvall punished a slider and ended the righty’s outing.
“He wasn’t giving us too much to hit,” Duvall said. “He was painting the corners there, working his game plan. He left (the slider) a little up and over. Being able to drive those runs in were huge. It was a stalemate, 0-0. It felt like neither team could get anything going.”
4. Braves starter Max Fried had his best outing since the complete-game shutout in Baltimore. Fried held the Giants to three hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one. He was dominant while trading zeroes with DeSclafani, again showing he’s a pitcher who thrives in postseason-like environments.
“He had everything working today,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He was spot on, as was their guy (DeSclafani). Max is special, he’s a front-end guy. He just continues to mature and get more confidence. That was really good today. It was a great day to pitch, a beautiful day here. That’s what makes this place (Oracle Park) really cool, days like this. It was a great pitching matchup. Great pitched ballgame by both sides. I’m just glad we came out on top.”
5. The Braves kept sole possession of first place in the National League East with the victory. The Phillies faced the Mets on Sunday Night Baseball. If Philadelphia wins, the Braves keep their one-game lead. A Phillies’ loss would give the Braves a two-game cushion.
Stat to know
4 (The Braves stopped their losing streak at four games. They haven’t suffered a skid longer than four this season.)
Quotable
“That was as close to the postseason as you’re going to get.” – Duvall on the series in San Francisco
Up next
Huascar Ynoa (4-5, 3.26) will start the opener of the Braves’ four-game series in Arizona, which begins Monday.
