Braves win again in extras, will play Sunday trying to reach .500

Sunday, they will have their fifth chance this season to even their record, the first four of which have been unsuccessful, all in one-run games. Pittsburgh won the first game of the series Friday night by the same 3-2 score.

The Braves scored in the top of the 11th in unconventional fashion. Matt Olson started on second as the ghost runner and advanced to third on a groundout by Ozzie Albies. After Sean Murphy grounded out and Michael Harris II was intentionally walked, Pirates pitcher Chase Shugart threw a 2-2 fastball that nearly grazed Eli White’s head but got past catcher Henry Davis for a wild pitch. Olson jogged home easily with what proved to be the winning run.

“Honestly, (Olson scoring) wasn’t running through my mind just because I was thankful I didn’t get hit, honestly,” White said.

Reliever Scott Blewett retired the side in order to close out the game in the bottom of the 11th, stranding the ghost runner on third. Blewett, who was acquired by the Braves April 20 in a trade with the Orioles, was near flawless in two innings, not allowing a run despite starting both innings with a ghost runner on second. It’s the second consecutive appearance in which he has done exactly that, helping nail down the team’s 11-inning win over the Reds at Truist Park on Thursday.

“To strand two guys two different innings for the second time, it shows a lot about him,” Olson said. “I know that he prepares a lot, he’s got good stuff. But big stones on the mound in a big moment getting the job done.”

Manager Brian Snitker did not use closer Raisel Iglesias as part of a plan to rest him Friday and Saturday. Iglesias has had difficulties this season, giving up six home runs in 15 innings.

“He had been up a lot, throwing a lot,” Snitker said. “We just kind of felt like a two-day reset might help him.”

The Braves are 19-20, with each of their past three wins in extras. The Pirates are 13-27. Sunday afternoon’s game will decide the series.

The Braves’ recent patterns continued Saturday as a) the pitching was exemplary; b) the hitting was not.

AJ Smith-Shawver, following his most recent start in which he carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, more than did his job Saturday. The 22-year-old went 5 2/3 innings with only one run allowed with five hits (all singles) and two walks against seven strikeouts.

“I’m excited to try to keep this train rolling and keep making my pitches and getting outs,” said Smith-Shawver, whose ERA in six starts is down to 2.76.

Meanwhile, after managing only seven hits (one for extra bases) and two runs in a 3-2 loss to the Pirates on Friday night, the Braves were unable to do much to dent Pirates starter Andrew Heaney or his teammates.

Harris doubled in Murphy in the second and Olson banged a solo home run in the top of the third. Olson’s seventh homer of the year traveled a projected 431 feet to left center.

Beginning with their road game at Colorado April 30, the Braves hit .205 through Friday night’s game, the fourth lowest average in MLB. Their strikeout rate (25.7%) was fourth highest.

Meanwhile, in the same span, the team’s ERA (3.07) was sixth best and its strikeout rate (11.2/nine innings) was highest in the majors.

“In a perfect world, we’d win by 10,” Olson said. “We’ve just got to ride the game out the way it’s going, the way it’s flowing.”

Strider update

Ace Spencer Strider threw a bullpen session Saturday prior to the game as he comes back from a right hamstring strain that he suffered playing catch April 21. Strider had made one start in his return from elbow surgery. It was his second bullpen since the hamstring injury.

“It was good,” Snitker said. “I talked to him after, he said it felt good. So that’s good. So we’ll see how he comes in (Sunday) and then plot the strategy.”

Strider could test himself in a minor-league rehab assignment or he could rejoin the rotation.

Trying for even ground again

The Braves have played four games this season in which a win would have evened their record at .500, including three since April 30. They are 0-4 in those games.

“We’re not thinking about (getting back to .500),” Olson said. “We‘re showing up to win every day.”

Another one-run game

The Braves have been in one-run games in eight of their past 10 games (4-4 record), including each of their past five (3-2).

“On a day where offense was kind of struggling, just to come away with a win is huge there,” White said.

Infield defense shows up again

While third baseman Austin Riley made a throwing error in the eighth inning that proved inconsequential, the Braves infield made a number of deft plays to help stay in the game.

Shortstop Nick Allen made a diving catch of a line drive in the bottom of the fifth. Orlando Arcia, who came into the game after Allen was pinch hit for in the top of the ninth, started a 6-4-3 double play on a scorching ground ball in the bottom of the ninth and then made a 6-3 putout when a misplay would have allowed the runner on third to score and win the game for the Pirates.

In the bottom of the 10th with a runner on third and one out, Riley handled a ground ball and threw out a Pirates baserunner at home who would have won the game if safe.

“These guys, they’re as solid as can be,” Snitker said.