Giants Hold On in the 9th to Sweep Braves
ATLANTA (AP) -- Andrew Suarez outpitched Mike Soroka in a rookie matchup, and San Francisco survived Atlanta's ninth-inning rally for a 4-3 win on Sunday and the Giants' first series sweep of the Braves in four years.
Suarez (1-1) allowed only one unearned run and seven hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander has allowed two earned runs in two starts since he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on May 1 to replace the injured Johnny Cueto in the rotation.
The Braves rallied with two runs off closer Hunter Strickland in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki's double drove in Jose Bautista, who singled. Ender Inciarte's groundout drove in Johan Camargo, before Ozzie Alibies popped out to end the game. Strickland earned his eighth save.
Nick Hundley and Pablo Sandoval had run-scoring singles to give the Giants a 2-1 lead in the third.
San Francisco added two more runs in the fourth. Alen Hanson, who had an infield single, scored from third on a head-first slide home, beating first baseman Freddie Freeman's throw after fielding Gregor Blanco's grounder.
Hanson added a fifth-inning double for his third straight two-hit game of the series, but he committed two fielding errors.
Soroka (1-1) lasted only four innings in his first home start, allowing four runs and seven hits and three walks.
With Soroka, 20, Ronald Acuna Jr., 20, and Ozzie Albies, 21, the Braves had the three youngest players in the majors on the field together. Soroka's highlight of the day was a second-inning single up the middle for his first hit.
Acuna, the top prospect who made his debut on April 25, singled to left field in the first inning for his first hit at SunTrust Park. Acuna scored on Tyler Flowers' single.
Acuna showed his speed when he beat out an infield single in the third. Sandoval fielded Acuna's grounder cleanly at third base, took a step, threw to first and then appeared shocked Acuna beat the throw.
The Giants' previous sweep of the Braves came on May 2-4, 2014 at Turner Field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: OF Mac Williamson, who was eligible to be reinstated from the seven-day concussion DL on Saturday, will remain on the DL for "a couple days," according to manager Bruce Bochy. Williamson likely will need a minor league rehab stint when he's ready to play. ... Bochy said RHP Reyes Moronta, who left Saturday night's game with a tight back after throwing eight straight balls to open the ninth, "seems to be doing better."
Braves: RHP Lucas Sims, who allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings on Saturday night, was sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves recalled RHP Luke Jackson.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 5.27) will try to improve on his 8.18 career ERA against the Phillies when San Francisco opens a four-game series at Philadelphia on Monday.
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