Ozuna homers, Arcia's RBI in 10th lifts Braves to 5-4 win over Astros

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud, left, and closing pitcher Raisel Iglesias, right, celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros in a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. The Braves won 5-4 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

HOUSTON (AP) — Marcell Ozuna hit his major league-leading eighth homer and Orlando Arcia’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

It completes a three-game sweep of the struggling Astros and is Atlanta’s fourth straight victory.

Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia celebrates his RBI single against the Houston Astros during the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

The Braves scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie it at 4-4. Michael Harris II started the 10th as the automatic runner on second and there was one out in the inning when Seth Martinez (1-1) intentionally walked Matt Olson.

Atlanta Braves closing pitcher Raisel Iglesias celebrates after a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. The Braves won 5-4 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Ozuna lined out to right field to send Harris to third base. Arcia then singled on a ground ball to left field to score Harris and put the Braves on top.

“He’s got a slow heartbeat,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I like seeing him in big situations. Even last year he had a lot of big hits. He doesn’t get caught up in all the excitement. He stays calm and slows the game down and allow himself a chance.”

Arcia has five hits and five RBIs in his past three games combined.

“Ozuna was just encouraging and saying let’s go,” Arcia said in Spanish through a translator. “Fortunately, I didn’t try to do too much, and it worked out.”

Pinch-runner Jake Meyers was on second when Kyle Tucker walked with no outs in the 10th. Meyers moved to third on a fly out by Yainer Diaz but Jeremy Peña grounded into a double play to end it.

A.J. Minter (3-1) got the last two outs of the ninth for the win and Raisel Iglesias earned his fifth save.

Snitker credited his bullpen for his team’s success in this series.

“If they don’t hold leads and keep us close when we get behind you don’t have an opportunity to do that,” he said. “That’s the most valuable thing they can do is just kind of keep the game in check and give us a chance and they’re really good at it.”

Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. added his first homer of the season to help the Braves to the victory. Ozuna also leads the majors with 23 RBIs and he extended his hitting streak to 16 games, which ties his career best and is the longest active streak in the majors.

Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman (2) and Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrate a home run by Alvarez during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Yordan Alvarez and Mauricio Dubón both homered for the Astros, who fell to 6-14 and are last in the AL West.

“As a team we just need to come together and play better and finish games,” manager Joe Espada said. “We’ve just got to play cleaner overall.”

Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

There was one out in the first when Alvarez connected on his homer to the seats in left field to put Houston up 1-0.

Ozuna opened the second with his 432-foot shot to left field, which bounced off the wall and tied the game.

Acuña put the Braves up 2-1 when he sent the first pitch of the fifth inning to straightaway center field.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

The Astros tied it on an RBI single by Alex Bregman in the fifth and Kyle Tucker’s RBI double came next to put the Astros up 3-2.

Atlanta Braves second baseman Luis Guillorme, top, jumps over Houston Astros designated hitter Yainer Diaz (21) after throwing to first base as Diaz slides into second base on Guillorme’s attempted double play during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. Jeremy Pena was safe at first. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Dubón hit his first home run of the year off Jesse Chavez to start Houston’s sixth and push the lead to 4-2.

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr., right, celebrates his home run as he runs past home plate umpire Dan Bellino, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Harris singled to start the seventh before a ground-rule double by Austin Riley. Olson reached, and Harris scored on a fielding error by first baseman José Abreu when he couldn’t grab a routine ground ball.

Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman flips his bat as he heads to first base for an RBI single against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

There was one out in the inning when Riley scored on a sacrifice fly by Arcia to tie it at 4-all.

Houston starter J.P. France allowed four hits and two runs in five innings.

Max Fried gave up seven hits and three runs in five innings.

UP NEXT

Braves: Atlanta is off Thursday before opening a series against Texas on Friday night with LHP Chris Sale (1-1, 4.58 ERA) on the mound.

Astros: Houston is also off Thursday before ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night against Washington. The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder.

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