San Francisco Giants hold on in 9th to sweep Braves
ATLANTA — Andrew Suarez is fitting in San Francisco’s rotation just fine, especially after his first career road start was added to the Giants’ ledger of impressive results away from home.
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.
Giants starters have a 2.55 ERA in 17
road games after Suarez (1-1) allowed only one unearned run and seven hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings for his first win.
Suarez, a left-hander, shut down Braves hitters that began the day leading the majors with a .274 average and leading the National League in several categories, including runs.
“It’s something I’m never going to forget, for sure,” Suarez said. “I’m just happy we got the win and especially the sweep.”
Suarez 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.
“That’s huge and that’s what has to happen,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “When you have injuries, hopefully you have depth and you have somebody come up and do a nice job for you.”
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.
Bochy acknowledged the inning was “a little scary.”
“That’s what your closer has to do, though,” he said. “He has to keep his composure out there and make pitches.”
Nick Hundley and Pablo Sandoval had runscoring 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 fifthinning 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.
“He wasn’t as sharp, obviously,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “You’re going to have games like that.”
The Giants’ previous sweep of the Braves came on May 2-4, 2014, at Turner Field.