Spencer Strider delivered a commanding performance on the mound Wednesday night, striking out eight batters over six innings to help the Atlanta Braves secure a 6–2 victory over the New York Mets and complete a three-game series sweep at Truist Park.
The 26-year-old right-hander, known for his blazing fastball and sharp breaking pitches, showed complete control from the first pitch, frustrating Mets hitters with his precision and velocity. Strider gave up just two runs on five hits, walking only one batter in another stellar outing that reinforced his status as one of the National League’s most dominant pitchers.
“It’s always great to contribute when the team is rolling like this,” Strider said after the game. “The defense was fantastic behind me, and the offense gave me room to work. That’s all you can ask for.”
Atlanta’s offense backed up Strider’s effort early. Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the bottom of the first with a double, later scoring on a sacrifice fly by Matt Olson. Austin Riley followed with a two-run homer in the third, giving the Braves a 3–0 lead they would never relinquish.
The Mets managed to plate two runs in the fifth, but Strider quickly shut the door, retiring the side in the sixth before handing the ball off to the bullpen. Atlanta relievers A.J. Minter, Joe Jiménez, and Raisel Iglesias combined for three scoreless innings to seal the win.
With the victory, the Braves improved to 45–29 on the season and extended their winning streak to five games. The sweep over their division rivals not only bolstered team morale but also tightened their grip on first place in the NL East.
“Strider set the tone,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He had his best stuff tonight and pitched with a lot of confidence. When he’s like that, he’s hard to beat.”
Strider’s eight-strikeout performance brought his season total to 102 in just 82 innings, reaffirming his position among the league’s strikeout leaders. More importantly, his consistency has helped anchor a Braves rotation that has battled injuries throughout the year.
As the All-Star break approaches, the Braves look like a team hitting their stride, with Spencer Strider leading the charge — one strikeout at a time.
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