In a thrilling extra-inning showdown at Truist Park, the Atlanta Braves continued their dominant run, edging the Boston Red Sox 3-2 on a walk-off single by Mike Yastrzemski in the 10th inning Friday night.
The Braves, who boast the best record in Major League Baseball, showed their resilience when Yastrzemski delivered the game-winning hit—a sharp single to left field that scored automatic runner Ha-Seong Kim. The clutch moment capped a night of high drama and extended Atlanta's home success to 15-7 on the season.
Atlanta's bullpen was rock-solid once again. Didier Fuentes (3-0) worked a tense 10th inning, escaping a two-on jam by inducing a lineout from Mickey Gasper to shortstop. For the Red Sox, rookie Tyler Samaniego (0-2) took the loss, as Boston dropped four of their last five games and have struggled to score, managing three runs or fewer in each contest during that stretch.
The Braves jumped ahead early with power from their young stars. Drake Baldwin launched a first-inning home run that barely cleared the wall after popping out of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela's glove at the warning track. Michael Harris II added to the lead in the third with a towering 419-foot blast into the Braves' bullpen in right-center field. Both homers came off Boston rookie Connelly Early, who lasted five innings.
On the mound, Spencer Strider continued to find his rhythm in his third start of the season. The right-hander allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings, thanks in part to catcher Sandy León, who threw out two Red Sox base stealers. Strider has surrendered only one run across his last two outings.
Boston finally broke through in the sixth when Gasper drove in Carlos Narváez with a single. The Red Sox tied the game in the seventh on a solo home run by Marcelo Mayer, setting the stage for extra innings.
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias was nearly untouchable in the ninth, stranding two runners in a 20-pitch inning. The effort extended his scoreless streak to 13 2/3 innings this season and an incredible 26 1/3 innings dating back to last year.
The series continues Saturday, with Braves right-hander Bryce Elder (4-1, 1.81 ERA) taking the mound against Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle (1-2, 2.78).