ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley hit home runs and the Atlanta Braves extended their winning streak to six games with a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
A day after the Braves failed to add another frontline starter, Grant Holmes (7-4) threw six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and a walk while working around an error by Albies. He lowered his ERA to 3.67.
Albies pulled the first pitch he saw in the second inning for a home run to right field, his 19th of the season. Riley crushed a two-run homer 433 feet to left-center off John King in the seventh. Matt Olson was 2 for 3 and was hit by a pitch for the Braves, who are 10-2 at home since the All-Star break.
Dylan Dodd came on in relief with a man on in the seventh, and induced a fly ball and ground ball double play to keep the shutout intact.
Raisel Iglesias gave up two runs in the ninth inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, the Braves closed out the win when Drake Baldwin threw out Jakob Marsee trying to steal third base.
Ryan Gusto (0-3) pitched a season-high six innings, giving up a run on Albies' homer and striking out five.
The Marlins had won six of seven.
Braves RHP Bryce Elder (7-6, 3.84) will be opposed by Marlins RHP Eury Pérez (5-8, 3.44) in the second game of the three-game series Wednesday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) makes the catch against Miami Marlins' Jakob Marsee in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (66) works from the bump against the Miami Marlins in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies (1) celebrates his solo homerun in the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Newly acquired Phillies second baseman Luis Arraez is excited to be in Philadelphia and in a playoff race. He’s also grateful that two-time MVP Bryce Harper was willing to make a position switch.
“I was surprised, but I’m really excited to be here,” Arraez said Tuesday ahead of his Phillies debut.
A three-time batting champion and four-time All-Star, Arraez was slotted into the cleanup spot behind Harper for Tuesday night's game against Washington. He singled, doubled and drove in two runs to help the Phillies beat the Nationals 5-0.
“I was excited, especially when fans gave me that ovation,” Arraez said of his debut. “That was beautiful.”
Arraez boosted his NL-best batting average to .325. Including his 105 games with the San Francisco Giants, he has just 21 strikeouts in 468 plate appearances this season.
“I love to put the ball in play,” he said. “I hate strikeouts.”
Arraez’s acquisition for a pair of minor leaguers required Philadelphia to revamp its defensive lineup, most notably with Harper moving back to right field from first base. Harper last played the outfield on April 16, 2022, and moved to the infield after he suffered an elbow injury on a throw that led to Tommy John surgery. He consented to the switch to help the team, he said Monday.
“That’s a pro,” Arraez said of Harper. “A lot of respect from me.”
Interim manager Don Mattingly said that while Harper will need to ramp up to full arm strength, there are no issues with his throwing.
“No restrictions on how he plays,” Mattingly said.
Alec Bohm moved from third base to first, and Bryson Stott vacated second base for Arraez and shifted to third.
“There may be some bumps and bruises with this, but these guys are baseball players and they’re going to be fine,” Mattingly said.
Mattingly considered batting Arraez in the leadoff spot but ultimately decided to put slugger Kyle Schwarber at the top of the lineup and Arraez in the cleanup role, which is not typical for a contact hitter. Arraez, who has four homers this season, said he doesn’t worry about where he bats in the order.
“I just want to go there and try to help the team,” he said.
The Giants were 17 games under .500 entering Tuesday, while Philadelphia is in position for an NL wild card.
“I can’t wait,” Arraez said.
But he won’t try to change his game, which is a throwback to a bygone era when there wasn’t such an emphasis on power.
“It’s not my game,” Arraez said. “If I change it, I’ll be in my house watching the guys play baseball.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
San Francisco Giants' Luis Arraez jokes with players in the San Diego Padres dugout as he stands on first base after getting hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 30, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
