Giants suffer ninth straight loss, Braves lead NL East by five games

SAN FRANCISCO – The Atlanta Braves’ heads-up baserunning has been crucial in their leap to contention. Ozzie Albies, among the more aggressive runners on the team, illustrated how dangerous his team can be on the paths Monday night.

Albies appeared to hit a routine single to begin the seventh, but sprinted to second as Gorkys Hernandez’s throw sailed over first baseman Brandon Belt. Albies ended up at third, scoring when Dansby Swanson popped into the clear San Francisco night sky.

Two innings later, Albies came up again. He hit a ball into the deepest part of the AT&T Park outfield – Triples Alley, as it’s known – again reaching third and knocking in the Braves’ third run.

Suddenly, the team that couldn’t win in the West had taken four of their first five this trip, with its latest touch a 4-1 result over the Giants. The Braves haven’t taken a series in San Francisco since 2011, being outscored 104-70 in those 21 games.

Sean Newcomb and Dereck Rodriguez matched pitch-for-pitch, leaving room for Albies to snatch the spotlight. As Ronald Acuna has exploded onto the scene, Albies’ star has faded. Monday was a reminder how impactful he can be.

The 21-year-old finished with a double, triple, RBI and a pair of runs scored. Even as his bat slumped, he played exceptional defense and provided threatening speed when he does reach.

Twenty of Albies’ 22 homers came in the first half, as did 55 of his 68 RBIS. The Braves’ second-half surge has come in spite of his progress, but reviving any part of his earlier form, which included 22 extra-base knocks in April and a spot on the All-star team, would be a boon as the Braves prepare for the post-