With a first-inning explosion of offense, the Braves’ 11-4 win vs. the Phillies Sunday at Truist Park felt over very soon after it started.
Five observations:
1. Let’s take stock of Sunday’s first inning for the Braves: seven runs, seven hits and two singles for right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. as Atlanta (32-21) went all the way through the order. Now, let’s do the Phillies: zero hits, two errors and a pitching change from starter Dylan Covey to Jeff Hoffman after Covey (who was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers May 20) gave up the first five runs.
Basically, after a lackluster offensive performance in Saturday’s 2-1 loss, Atlanta found some runs in a hurry, blowing up Covey’s outing before it had a chance to really begin.
The Braves tallied a season-high 20 hits and their most hits in a game since tallying 20 in a 20-3 win vs. the Mets on June 30, 2021. First baseman Matt Olson added two home runs (bringing his season tally to 16) and a team-high four RBIs.
Atlanta ended up splitting this four-game series with the Phillies, 2-2.
2. When Spencer Strider struck out right fielder Nick Castellanos in the fourth inning, he became the fastest starting pitcher (by innings pitched) to reach 100 strikeouts in a season since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, doing so in 61 innings. The previous record-holder was Jacob deGrom when he was with the Mets (61.2 innings in 2021).
Sunday, Strider gave up two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out nine in six innings pitched.
“Just to see how he can get through that and make adjustments and go through six is really, really good,” manager Brian Snitker said of Strider getting back in a groove after giving up a two-run home run to center fielder Brandon Marsh in the third inning.
3. Third baseman Austin Riley hit a solo home run in the first-inning onslaught, extending his season-best hitting streak to 11 games. On this stretch (which dates mack to May 17), Riley is hitting .372 with three home runs, six doubles and eight RBI.
4. Acuña Jr. went 4-for-5 with three singles, one triple in the fifth inning and three RBIs. He singled in the first inning, snapping a five-game streak of going hitless in his first at-bat.
The Braves continue to have success early, with their 51 runs in the first inning the most in MLB.
“I think it’s important to score a lot of runs early even to just give the starting pitcher the support, and that’s important to go out and pitch confidently,” Acuña said through team interpreter, Franco Garcia, of the Braves’ seven runs in the first inning.
5. When Michael Soroka was a healthy scratch for Triple-A Gwinnett Sunday, it indicated his return could be imminent. After Sunday’s win, Snitker confirmed that Soroka will indeed start for the Braves Monday in Oakland – the 25-year-old has battled back from two torn right Achilles tendon injuries that required three surgeries and hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2020.
It’s a remarkable comeback for Soroka, and could also bolster the Braves’ rotation, with starters Max Fried and Kyle Wright still on the IL.
“To go through everything he’s been through, and now to get back, is really a feather in that kid’s cap,” Snitker said. “And just the dedication and how hard that had to have been. And everything he went through the last couple of years, man, that would really test you. And every time I saw him, this guy was upbeat and he was driven to get back out there. I’ve got a lot of respect for how he went about it. It’s going to be cool. I’m excited about getting him out there and seeing it go.”
The Braves will option reliever Derek Rodríguez, Snitker said, as the corresponding move for Soroka.
Stat to know: 106 (With 106 strikeouts this season, Strider has 16 more than the next-highest pitcher, the Angels’ Shoei Ohtani with 90)
Quotable: “That’s impressive. Not shocking in the least bit. It was hard to tell if he caught it or was mad at himself, so he put me through a bit of an emotional roller coaster for a moment. I’m glad he caught it. It was a pretty spectacular catch.” (Strider on a great snag by center fielder Michael Harris II to save an almost-home run by Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber in the second inning)
Up next: Soroka is slated to face RHP Paul Blackburn (making his 2023 debut) in Oakland Monday.
