Luis Arraez homered and drove in four runs and Carson Whisenhunt tossed five solid innings in his season debut on Wednesday to help the visiting San Francisco Giants post a 7-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a doubleheader.
Whisenhunt (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two in his first game since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday morning. Willy Adames and Bryce Eldridge both hit solo home runs for the Giants, who won 7-2 in the opener on Wednesday and won their third straight overall.
J.R. Ritchie (1-2) threw five innings of five-hit, five-run ball, striking out four and walking three for the scuffling Braves, who dropped their sixth game in seven tries. Carlos Carrasco allowed two runs across four innings in relief.
After Arraez began the first inning with a walk, Rafael Devers drove in the Giants’ first run with a two-out double.
Atlanta threatened in the bottom of the first, as Mauricio Dubon began the frame with a walk and Ozzie Albies laced a two-out single. After Whisenhunt’s wild pitch advanced both runners, Austin Riley’s fly out to center ended the inning.
Adames began the second with his 13th homer of the season to double the Giants’ lead. Three batters later, Arraez connected on a two-run shot to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.
San Francisco continued the onslaught as Eldridge launched another homer to push the margin to five.
In the sixth, Matt Olson, Albies and Riley each singled to cut the Braves’ deficit to 5-1.
JT Brubaker then relieved Whisenhunt. Two batters later, Dominic Smith’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2.
Olson singled off Sam Hentges to begin the eighth. Ryan Walker then entered in relief and struck out Albies. Riley singled to bring the tying run to the plate.
From there, Eli White flew out and Rowdy Tellez struck out to leave the margin at three.
Casey Schmitt singled and Drew Gilbert was hit by a pitch in the ninth. Two batters later, Arraez drove in both runners with a single to give the Giants a 7-2 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Matt Gage allowed Jair Camargo’s two-out double and Dubon’s two-run homer, pulling the Braves within three. After Drake Baldwin and Olson both singled, Gage was replaced by Tristan Beck.
A wild pitch then cut the Giants lead to two, but Beck retired Albies and got Riley to strike out to end the game.
