Drake Baldwin masterclass
Drake Baldwin drove in three runs, including a two-run home run, as the Atlanta Braves rolled past the struggling Detroit Tigers, 10-1, on Friday night in Detroit.
Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim also hit two-run homers, helping the Braves (71-83) extend their winning streak to six games. Ozzie Albies added three hits and two RBIs, while Jurickson Profar collected two hits and scored twice.
Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (8-10) was sharp, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out six without issuing a walk.
Spencer Torkelson hit his 30th home run for the Tigers (85-69), who have now dropped seven of their last eight games.
Detroit starter Charlie Morton (9-11) lasted only 1 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on five hits. Chris Paddack followed with five innings, surrendering two more runs.
The Braves jumped out quickly, scoring three runs before Detroit recorded an out. Profar opened with a double, Matt Olson was hit by a pitch, and walks to Acuña Jr. and Baldwin forced in a run. Albies then delivered a single to plate two more.
Atlanta struck again in the second. Nacho Alvarez Jr. led off with a single, and Olson doubled him home. Acuña followed by crushing his 18th homer of the year, stretching the lead to 6-0 and ending Morton’s night.
Torkelson briefly gave the Tigers life in the fourth with a solo shot, but that was all Detroit could manage.
Kim’s eighth-inning homer pushed the score to 8-1, and Baldwin capped the night with a ninth-inning blast off Paul Sewald in his Tigers debut. Position player Zach McKinstry recorded the final out for Detroit.
The Braves, already out of playoff contention, continued their strong late-season surge, while Detroit’s postseason hopes took another blow with the loss.
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