NEW YORK – The Braves were looking for an innings eater before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. There were reports that they were interested in Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom, but Atlanta wound up with right-hander Tyler Mahle, whom they acquired from the Giants in a trade for Minor League right-hander Anthony Molina on Sunday.
In his first appearance as a member of the Braves, Mahle gave them length at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. He picked up a no-decision as Atlanta lost to the Yankees, 3-2, in 10 innings to snap an eight-game winning streak.
It looked like the Braves were on the verge of winning their ninth straight game. They were up 2-0 thanks to solo homers by Austin Riley and Matt Olson. It was right-hander Raisel Iglesias’ turn to close it out and pick up his 25th save of the season. But Iglesias had a tough time throwing strikes.
With one out, Iglesias allowed an infield single to George Lombard Jr. Iglesias should have held on to the ball because, while trying to throw out Lombard at first base, he threw the ball past Olson, allowing Lombard to go all the way to third for a two-base error.
After Ryan McMahon struck out, Austin Wells doubled to right field, scoring Lombard to make it a one-run game. After a walk to Amed Rosario, Ben Rice followed and singled off the wall, scoring Wells and tying the score at 2.
An inning later, with the bases loaded and right-hander Tyler Kinley on the mound, McMahon hit a sacrifice fly that scored Luis García Jr. to end the game.
“The walks – there was a swinging bunt in there, also,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “[Iglesias] doesn’t walk guys. The Rosario walk was a big one there.”
As it turned out, the first inning ended up hurting the Braves. With two outs and left-hander Max Fried on the mound, Drake Baldwin thought he had scored on a single by Mauricio Dubón. But the replay showed that Ozzie Albies was thrown out at third before Baldwin touched home plate.
“It ended up being a big play. There were a couple of plays here and there where things turned. There was a lot of game to play, but not getting the run is a tough one,” Weiss said.
Mahle highlighted the game for Atlanta. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, when Heliot Ramos led off with a double to right field. After that, Mahle retired nine of the next 11 hitters he faced. Mahle was able to get outs with his four-seam fastball, splitter and cutter.
“I was making good pitches. My fastball was a little hoppy today. I used some good splits,” Mahle said.
Mahle found out he had been traded to Atlanta after boarding a plane to Dallas with the Giants. Buster Posey, San Francisco’s head of baseball operations, called him to tell him that he had been dealt to Atlanta.
For Mahle, it was weird to fly with a team he is no longer employed with. To say he was busy that day was an understatement. He received a lot of text messages, then had to call his wife and figure out how he was going to join the Braves.
“It’s exciting to come [to the Braves], who are in first place and play so well,” Mahle said. “… They made me feel really welcomed. They have a great group of dudes. It was another day at the office.”