ATLANTA – A move toward simplicity served Spencer Strider well in his first home start.
The adjustment could help the 23-year-old right-hander keep his newfound place in the Atlanta Braves’ rotation.
Strider outpitched Roansy Contreras in a matchup of hard-throwing rookies, Dansby Swanson had three hits, including a two-run homer, and the Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Friday night for their ninth straight win.
The winning streak is the National League’s longest this season. In the American League, the Houston Astros – the team Atlanta beat to win the World Series last fall – and the New York Yankees have had 11-game streaks this year.
The Braves are on their longest streak since another nine-game run from Aug. 13-22, 2021. The Pirates have lost four straight, matching their longest skid of the season.