ATLANTA — The Braves might be seeing Blue Jays in their nightmares.
In their final scheduled meeting of the season, the Blue Jays defeated the Braves again, 8-4 on Thursday afternoon at Truist Park. It was a hard-fought, up-and-down affair that was decided in the ninth when the Blue Jays scored four times. Toronto swept the Braves for the second time this season.
The loss came at an additional cost: Two outfielders were injured in the process. Cristian Pache left with right-hamstring tightness in the third inning. Ronald Acuna hurt his left ankle running to first base in the seventh. He walked off the field on his own with a small limp.
Acuna started the game launching a leadoff homer to left field off Ross Stripling to open the bottom of the first. Ehire Adrianza’s RBI single made the score 2-0. It was the first time in the series the Braves scored multiple runs in one inning.
Acuna extended his major-league lead with his 12th homer. He’s three ahead of the next highest total in the National League, which includes teammate Freddie Freeman. He’s two ahead of second place in the majors, which is a four-way tie of American Leaguers with 10 homers.
Braves starter Charlie Morton, who failed to escape the first inning in his previous outing, pitched into the fifth. He allowed three runs on seven hits. Morton departed with two outs and the bases loaded in his final inning. Right-hander Jacob Webb ended the threat by striking out Lourdes Gurriel.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson put the Braves ahead with a two-run homer in the sixth. Toronto tied the score with only two at-bats against A.J. Minter in the eighth: Teoscar Hernandez walked, and Cavan Biggio doubled into the gap.
Toronto attacked Will Smith in the ninth. The first two hitters singled, setting up Bo Bichette’s two-RBI double that snapped a 4-4 tie. Bichette was among several Blue Jays who tormented the Braves in the series. Biggio’s double drove home the third run and chased Smith from the game. It was the first time since April 21 that Smith allowed an earned run — he was charged each of the four — ending a six-outing scoreless streak.
