ATLANTA -- It’s best to have Michael Harris II in the lineup as frequently as possible. But on those days he needs to rest, it’s also nice to bring him off the bench to show why he’s known as “Money Mike.”
Harris erased any concerns about his recent back discomfort when he delivered a bases-clearing pinch-hit double in the seventh inning of a 3-2 win over the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Truist Park. The comeback win gave the Braves their third series sweep of the season and first at home.
While Harris delivered the big hit, Didier Fuentes pitched a scoreless ninth to record his first career save.
The Braves’ offensive production resembled the gloomy overcast conditions until they loaded the bases in the seventh against suburban Atlanta native Bubba Chandler. This prompted Braves manager Walt Weiss to have Harris pinch-hit for Sandy León. Pirates skipper Don Kelly countered with left-handed reliever Evan Sisk.
A left-on-left matchup might have worked against last year’s version of Harris. But this year’s version seems to live for matchups and moments like this.
Harris looked at a first-pitch strike and then laced the sinker that followed off the bottom of the right-field wall. The incredibly fast Jorge Mateo scored from first base, despite being approximately 40 feet from third base when Bucs right fielder Ryan O’Hearn grabbed the baseball.
The three-run seventh backed a strong start from Bryce Elder, who ranks seventh in the NL with a 2.66 ERA through 14 starts. The Braves have a MLB-best 18 series wins. But before Sunday, their only previous series sweeps came against the Phillies (April 17-19) and the Rockies (May 1-3).
Harris highlighted that Rockies series when he came off the bench on May 1, to drill a go-ahead ninth-inning homer. He’s now 4-for-6 with two doubles and a home run as a pinch-hitter this season. He tallied one hit in his only two previous pinch-hit at-bats before this year.