Atlanta's William Contreras hit two home runs and Ian Anderson may have saved his spot in the starting rotation by throwing six scoreless innings in a 6-2 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Contreras was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. The first homer -- his first since July 8 -- was a two-run shot in the second inning that cleared the center field fence and landed in the Atlanta bullpen.
The second homer, which came in the fourth inning, landed high in the right field stands. It was his third multi-homer game of the season and gives him 13 blasts on the year.
Anderson (9-6) needed a good effort. He allowed seven runs in his last start and had compiled a 6.25 over his previous 12 starts. He responded with his first scoreless appearance since going 6 2/3 innings against Chicago on June 19. The right-hander allowed only one hit, one walk and struck out nine, matching his career high.
Anderson retired the first 14 batters he faced and lost the perfect game on Jake McCarthy's hustle double with two outs in the fifth. McCarthy, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Saturday, stole third base. But after allowing a walk to Buddy Kennedy, Anderson struck out Geraldo Perdomo to end the threat.
Arizona starter Corbin Martin (0-1) was only able to get through four innings in his second start since joining the rotation. He allowed four runs on six hits, one walk, six strikeouts and three home runs, the first longballs he has allowed this season.
The Braves got their first run in the first inning on a solo homer by Matt Olson, his 21st. The first baseman has eight homers over his last 14 games.
Atlanta scored two more runs in the sixth inning against reliever Caleb Smith. Eddie Rosario tripled in Marcell Ozuna, then scored on Orlando Arcia's single, which upped the lead to 6-0.
Arizona broke up the shutout with two runs in the ninth off reliever A.J. Minter on RBI singles by Daulton Varsho and McCarthy.
--Field Level Media
Arizona | Atlanta | |
Corbin Martin | Player | Ian Anderson |
Loss | W/L | Win |
4.0 | IP | 6.0 |
6 | Strikeouts | 9 |
6 | Hits | 1 |
9.00 | ERA | 0.00 |
Arizona | Atlanta | |
Jake McCarthy | Player | William Contreras |
2 | Hits | 3 |
1 | RBI | 3 |
0 | HR | 2 |
3 | TB | 9 |
.500 | Avg | .750 |