Saturday, April 20, 2019 07:50 PM (ET)

5-run ninth gives Braves split with Indians

Field Level Media
Apr 21, 2019

Ronald Acuna Jr. ripped a two-run double to cap a five-run uprising in the ninth inning as the visiting Atlanta Braves recorded an 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night to salvage a split of a doubleheader.

Atlanta's big inning came after Cleveland put up a six-run fifth in Game 1 (an 8-4 Indians win) as well as a five-run second in the nightcap.

With the Braves trailing 7-3, Ozzie Albies ripped a two-out, two-run single down the first-base line in the ninth.

Adam Cimber (1-1) issued his third walk of the inning before departing in favor of Tyler Olson, who walked Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded to bring Atlanta within one.

Cody Anderson relieved Olson and saw his 1-0 fastball sent into left field by Acuna for a two-run double to give the Braves an 8-7 lead.

The late uprising made a winner out of Luke Jackson (2-0), who retired the side in the eighth inning. A.J. Minter struck out the side in the ninth to record his second save of the season.

The implosion by the Indians' bullpen spoiled a strong start by Trevor Bauer, who gave up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings.

Jose Ramirez scored twice and joined Jake Bauers in driving in a pair of runs for the Indians, who saw their four-game winning streak halted in the nightcap.

Francisco Lindor batted in the leadoff position and went 1-for-5 and scored a run -- part of the five-run spurt in the second inning. The three-time All-Star shortstop was activated prior to the doubleheader after being sidelined since the end of spring training with an ankle injury.

After the Indians scored twice in the first on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Carlos Gonzalez, Ramirez's two-run single to center staked the Indians to a 4-0 lead. Carlos Santana added an RBI single to right to make it 5-0, and after Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to end the evening for starter Touki Toussaint, Shane Carle promptly surrendered a two-run double to Bauers to push Cleveland's advantage to 7-0.

Tyler Flowers put the Braves on the scoreboard with an RBI triple in the fifth inning, and Dansby Swanson deposited a 1-1 sinker from Dan Otero over the wall in center field for his fifth home run to trim the deficit to 7-3 in the seventh.

--Field Level Media

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