Braves make statement against Cy Young candidate

The Atlanta Braves took Miami Marlins ace and NL Cy Young candidate Sandy Alcantara deep multiple times on Friday, Sept. 2.

The Atlanta Braves are entering a critical final month of the 2022 season, as they are just three games behind the New York Mets for first place in the NL East. After their series win over the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta began their three-game set against the Miami Marlins on Friday, Sept. 2. In the first game, the Braves faced a tough test in the form of Marlins ace and NL Cy Young candidate Sandy Alcantara.

Facing off against Alcantara turned out to be no problem for Atlanta.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Travis d’Arnaud stepped into the batter’s box with Dansby Swanson on base. On a 1-0 pitch from Alcantara, d’Arnaud hit a home run to left center field to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead.

Shortly thereafter, rookie Vaughn Grissom sent a two-run home run to nearly the same spot as d’Arnaud to extend the lead to 4-1.

Braves hit multiple home runs off Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara

If you thought the Braves were done hitting home runs off the Marlins ace, you were wrong.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Michael Harris II hit a two-run homer of his own, this time to right center field to give Atlanta a 6-1 lead. This happened immediately after Alcantara hit d’Arnaud with a pitch.

Alcantara’s night ended after the Harris homer. In five innings, Alcantara recorded just three strikeouts and one walk, while surrendering seven hits.

Even if the Braves do not win the division, they are in prime position to clinch a Wild Card berth. They won the World Series last year, and they want to do it once again.