NEW YORK – In the beginning, Sean Murphy lined a three-run home run to left field, which began the scoring.
Toward the end, he blasted another three-run shot, this time to left-center field, to allow the Braves to breathe a sigh of relief after the game had become a bit uncomfortable.
In the middle of the two home runs, the Braves saw their lead dwindle, mostly because Spencer Strider did not look his best. Most other times, the lead provided by the Braves’ lineup would have been sufficient. On Monday, the Braves needed every bit of offense from their dangerous order.
Murphy led the way with his pair of three-run home runs – his third multi-homer game in his career – and a career-high six RBI as the Braves defeated the Mets 9-8 in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader.
“That was just a big win right there,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “We expended a lot of energy trying to win that game.”
The Braves lost the second game of the doubleheader, 5-3. Ronald Acuña Jr. exited with a left shoulder contusion after getting hit by a pitch while leading off the game. His X-rays came back negative, and further imaging on the shoulder revealed that there’s no fracture. The outfielder is day-to-day.
The Braves had Strider on the mound for the first game. They used their top relievers. They received a large scoring output from their offense. They threw everything into holding the lead and winning the first game of the doubleheader, and it paid off.
By the time Strider threw his first warm-up pitch of the afternoon, Atlanta led by three runs because of Murphy’s first-inning blast off Denyi Reyes.
And then in the second inning, the Braves went back to back for the fourth time this season. Facing his former team, Kevin Pillar launched a two-run shot that chased Reyes from the game. Acuña then greeted John Curtiss by hitting a 114.5 mph rocket that flew an estimated 448 feet – which might have been generous considering Acuña went where few do in this ballpark.
Given the early offense, you would’ve expected the Braves to cruise.
They didn’t.
At times, Strider looks superhuman. Against the Mets, he seemed mortal. He allowed four runs over the first three innings before completing five frames. He departed with a two-run lead, but Dylan Lee served up a sixth-inning homer that brought the Mets within a run.
That’s when Murphy struck again: He saw a hanging breaking ball from Jeff Brigham and hit it 412 feet into the seats to give the Braves a four-run lead.
“It’s unbelievable,” Strider said of Murphy’s impact on both sides of the chalk. “He’s a terrific player, terrific guy, great teammate, and couldn’t ask for more from him in any capacity. I’m just really grateful he’s on our team.”
The Braves needed Murphy’s two homers.
Collin McHugh pitched himself into trouble in the seventh and eventually allowed two runs when the Braves tried to turn two but Vaughn Grissom fired an errant throw to first with a baserunner sliding into him. The second run scored because of the error, and the Braves saw their lead shrink to two runs.
From there, the Braves had to hang on for dear life. Nick Anderson pitched a perfect eighth inning, with two strikeouts. A.J. Minter, who has struggled over this recent stretch, allowed a two-out solo homer but earned his sixth save of the season.
Game 1 began in a normal way with the Braves’ offense scoring six runs over the first two innings. It then unfolded in an unfamiliar way, with Strider uncharacteristically struggling.
After flirting with a no-hitter in his last start, Strider gave up a leadoff triple to Brandon Nimmo. Then he walked a batter and allowed a single that scored a run. Somehow, he avoided further damage in the inning.
An hour and change later, he walked off the mound after completing the fifth inning. He’d allowed four runs, including three on Pete Alonso’s homer. Still, it felt like Strider could’ve pitched worse.
“I’m just glad we won,” Strider said. “I didn’t really put us in a good position to win in the first half of the doubleheader. Big lead and I can’t go out and get quick outs. Credit to the bullpen and their offense, of course, for hitting the way they always do. Just good to get the win. Glad everybody picked me up.”
The streak ended, though: Before Monday, Strider had struck out at least nine batters in nine consecutive outings, dating to last season. He fell short of Chris Sale (10 straight such outings) and Nolan Ryan (11) on the all-time list.
To this point in the season, Strider had not struggled like this. In addition to giving up five hits, he walked three batters and hit another. He needed 36 pitches to complete the third inning. He had 84 pitches through three innings. He left having thrown a career-high 107 pitches.
Then again, he didn’t implode. He preserved Atlanta’s lead. He battled. He could’ve spiraled, but he found his way through five innings, which was important with the Braves’ pitching staff having to cover two games on Monday.
“I’ve seen him do that before,” Snitker said of Strider settling into the game. “And you gotta remember, this guy’s a young young pitcher, and he’s going through things and experiencing things. It’s just part of navigating being a starting pitcher.”
The Braves couldn’t have won without Murphy, the offseason acquisition that provided an offensive punch with two home runs that helped keep Atlanta in front all afternoon.
“He’s very aggressive,” Snitker said, “and he’s not missing a pitch when he hits it.”
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