September 19 – Marcell Ozuna doubled the game with a brilliant three-run home run in the seventh inning on Wednesday night to put the visiting Atlanta Braves ahead 7–1 over the Cincinnati Reds.
Ozuna, recovering from a 26-game homer drought, started Game 7 with a 3-0 pitch off reliever Tony Santillan (2-3) in the contest. Two batters later, Ramon Laureano missed a two-run home run over the wall in left field. Laureano and Matt Olson scored on Orlando Arcia’s two-out insurance single.
Michael Harris II hit his 13th homer in the eighth inning and Atlanta (82-70) beat Cincinnati (74-79) for the first time in five games this season. The win secured the Braves’ third and final National League wild card spot, leaving them just two games behind the New York Mets with 10 games remaining. Cincinnati was eliminated from the playoffs with the loss.
Atlanta rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (7-7) earned his second consecutive win, allowing one run on five hits in six innings. Schwellenbach didn’t allow a hit until Jonathan India tripled to right with two outs in the third inning. Eli De La Cruz ended the inning with a home run in the third.
De La Cruz made up for it in the sixth inning when he launched a triple down the right field line beyond the reach of Jorge Soler in the top of the sixth inning. After Tyler Stephenson was hit by a pitch, TJ Friedel made a spectacular suicide squeeze bunt in the top of the first inning to score De La Cruz to tie the score at 1-1.
Cincinnati starter Jakob Junis held Atlanta to one run and two hits over six innings. The right-hander came up big in the beginning, striking out the first 11 batters before Ozuna gave up a double to left-center fielder Spencer Steyer. Olson then singled sharply to center to score Ozuna.
Junis bolsters an injury-plagued Cincinnati rotation. Tuesday starter Brandon Williamson revealed Wednesday that he has completely torn up his left elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss this season and possibly next.
Eli White came in as a defensive reliever in the seventh inning and stole a home run to right field from Stephenson in the eighth.
——Visual-level media
