How the game was won: Rookie Williams Perez pitched five strong innings and worked out of two big jams in his first major league start, and Freddie Freeman doubled and scored in the sixth inning to lift the Braves to a 2-1 win over the Rays. Freeman bounced a one-out double over the fence, advanced on a Nick Markakis single, and scored on Todd Cunningham's groundout to snap a 1-1 tie and the Braves won for the fourth time in five games.

Number: 5. Number of earned runs allowed by Perez in 32 innings over six starts this season. He was 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Gwinnett, and gave up one run, six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in five innings of his first major league start Wednesday, after pitching in relief in his first two major league appearances.

What's next: The Braves continue their homestand when they start a four-game series against the Brewers on Thursday, with Julio Teheran (3-1, 4.33 ERA) facing Brewers right-hander Matt Garza (2-5, 5.72).

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Atlanta Braves first base Matt Olson (28) looks down at the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Truist Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Atlanta. 
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