OAKLAND, Calif. — Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider will let others marvel over his more spectacular starts.
The hard-throwing 23-year-old is particularly proud of what he did Wednesday afternoon, when the going got rough quickly against the Oakland Athletics.
In his first start since striking out an Atlanta-record 16 batters against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 1, Strider overcame a shaky first inning, fellow rookie Vaughn Grissom and shortstop Dansby Swanson homered, and the Braves pushed their winning streak to seven games, beating the A's 7-3 to sweep a two-game series.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Robbie Grossman and Marcell Ozuna also drove in runs for Atlanta (86-51), which began the day tied for first place in the National League East Division standings with the New York Mets (87-51), who nudged back ahead by a half-game with a doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets won 5-1 to snap a three-game losing streak, then took the nightcap 10-0.
"It's been incredible," said the 21-year-old Grissom, who made his MLB debut on Aug. 10. "Winning is super fun. These guys, we're all jelling and it's just been unreal."
Seth Brown hit his career-best 21st home run of the season in the eighth inning for the A's, who have lost six of their past seven games and have dropped 11 in a row against Atlanta dating to 2008.
The Braves, the reigning World Series champions who are also seeking a fifth straight NL East title, are off to good start on a West Coast road swing that continues Friday with a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners before three games against the San Francisco Giants.
"It's all about winning today's game for these guys, no matter who we're playing," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "... They prepare that way. They're consistent. It does say a lot about this team."
Strider (10-4) struck out nine batters and won his third consecutive start and fourth straight decision. He gave up two runs on three walks and a hit in the first inning before retiring 15 straight batters, allowing only one more hit before leaving after the sixth.
"I think this is probably the one I'm going to be most proud of so far," Strider said. "I just came out in the first and had no command. ... Came in and just reset, and then by the third inning, I thought, 'You know, hey, my fastball has been great the last few outings, why am I being passive?' So just kind of stepped on the gas and made it work."
Oakland batters struck out 16 times overall and got just three hits.
Stephen Vogt put the A's ahead in the first inning with an RBI double, and Ramón Laureano followed with an RBI groundout.
Grissom tied the game with a two-run homer off rookie Ken Waldichuk in the fifth. Swanson put Atlanta in front with a solo homer in the sixth.
Waldichuk (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits with two strikeouts in his second career start in the majors and his home debut.
"I thought Ken did a great job," Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. "Outside of the two home runs, he really pitched well today."
Ozuna added an RBI single in the seventh. Grossman followed with a two-run double and Acuña tacked on an RBI single to make it 7-2. Acuña served as the designated hitter for the seventh straight game as Atlanta tries to limit the workload on his right knee after ACL surgery last year.
Atlanta right-hander Jake Odorizzi (arm fatigue) threw a bullpen session and is expected to start Sunday at Seattle.
After having Thursday off, the Braves will go with right-hander Charlie Morton (7-5, 4.01 ERA) in the series opener. It will be the first meeting between the teams since Aug. 23, 2017, a 9-6 Mariners win.
Freeman news
NEW YORK — A radio host admitted he falsely claimed agent Casey Close never informed first baseman Freddie Freeman of the Braves' last contract offer before he wound up signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason.
Doug Gottlieb wrote on Twitter on June 29 that "Casey Close never told Freddie Freeman about the Braves final offer," and Close and Excel Sports Management sued Gottlieb in mid-July in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleging defamation by libel.
Gottlieb tweeted an apology Wednesday.
"Upon further vetting of my sources, a review of the lawsuit filed against me in this matter and a direct conversation with Casey himself, I have learned that the conduct I alleged did not occur and that there is no credible basis for stating that it did," Gottlieb wrote. "My ultimate investigation into this matter confirms that Casey Close did, in fact, communicate all offers to Freddie Freeman and the sources I relied on were incorrect, in no uncertain terms."
"I appreciate the damage that misinformation like this can cause," Gottlieb added, "and have been in touch with Casey Close to apologize directly. I have also deleted my original tweet."
Close, 58, is a principal of Excel and one of three managing partners. He has represented several hundred baseball players.
Gottlieb also tweeted on June 29 that Freeman had fired Close. However, Excel remains Freeman's listed agency, according to the players' association.
"From the onset, we were clear that Mr. Gottlieb's tweet was wholly inaccurate and that we would seek legal remedies to set the record straight," Close said in a statement. "He has retracted his statement in its entirety and acknowledged that he got the story wrong. We consider this matter closed."
Close and Excel filed a notice of voluntary dismissal later Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Gottlieb, 46, is affiliated with Fox Sports, the Pac-12 Network and CBS Sports, according to the suit.