The Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-1 on Tuesday night in the second outing of a three-game interleague set at Truist Park, evening the series at a game each.
Starting pitcher Spencer Strider surpassed his own MLB record as the fastest to reach 200 strikeouts in a season with a strikeout of Shohei Otani during the top of the first inning.
Strider was credited with the win for Atlanta after giving up just one run and five hits, walking two and striking out nine through six and two-third innings of work.
Michael Harris II led the Braves offensively with two home runs to include a tie-breaking solo shot in the bottom of the fifth. His second solo home run of the night followed a two-run bomb by Orlando Arcia in the seventh.
Matt Olson also drove in a run with a sac fly that got the Braves on the board in the bottom of the first inning.
The National League East-leading Braves improved their MLB-best record to 68-37 on the 2023 regular season. The Angels are 56-52 and in third place of the American League West. Those teams will meet in their series finale today at 12:20 pm. Listen on WLAQ 1410 AM/96.9 FM; airtime is 11:05 am from the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.
In other news from the Atlanta Braves, the team on Tuesday acquired relief pitcher Brad Hand from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor leaguer Alec Barger.