BOSTON -- Matt Olson’s game-tying home run halted Ranger Suarez’s dominance of the Braves, sparked a couple of other struggling Braves and most importantly, created reason to believe his elbow is healthy.
Olson wasn’t the only one feeling good after his first homer in more than two weeks propelled the Braves to a 7-6 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Austin Riley and Ronald Acuña Jr. also halted their recent woes with big hits in the decisive three-run sixth.
As for Michael Harris II, he just continued to pad his All-Star resume. The center fielder drilled his 12th homer and capped his second four-hit game of the season with a two-run shot in the eighth. He also had four hits against the Dodgers on May 8.
There was plenty for Braves manager Walt Weiss to feel good about after his team avoided suffering a third straight loss for what would have been just the second time this season. His offense showed life after scoring just one run over the final 18 innings of this past weekend’s series against the Nationals. And Spencer Strider shined in a start that began inauspiciously.
Strider surrendered back-to-back homers to Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela to begin the bottom of the first, and then retired 15 of the next 18 batters he faced. His ability to right the ship was rewarded when Olson drilled Suarez’s first-pitch sinker into the right-field seats to tie the game in the fifth. It was the first baseman’s 15th homer of the season and first since May 10. He entered the plate appearance with just two extra-base hits in his past 51 at-bats.
Olson led the Majors in fWAR earlier this month, but he entered Tuesday hitting .160 (8-for-50) with a .422 OPS over 13 games going back to May 12. Even the game’s best players experience similar slumps during the season. But this skid coincided with Olson grabbing his right elbow and grimacing after swinging and missing a pitch on May 15.
The timing of the skid and the uncomfortable reaction has created some concern. But Olson has said he occasionally feels discomfort when he swings and misses a pitch.