SAN FRANCISCO — The Atlanta Braves used this week’s visit to San Francisco to pull themselves out of their latest hole, winning a series for the first time in four tries this month.
Securing a four-game sweep of the home team at Oracle Park remained out of reach.
Logan Webb pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, Grant McCray had the first hit and first home run of his MLB career, and the Giants beat the Braves 6-0 on Thursday afternoon to avoid a sweep.
Atlanta had posted back-to-back extra-inning wins to start the series — 1-0 on Monday and 4-3 on Tuesday — before Wednesday’s 13-2 victory that included a grand slam by Michael Harris II in his return to the lineup two months after being sidelined by a strained left hamstring.
Thursday’s performance by Webb (11-8) helped the Giants snap a four-game skid. The 27-year-old right-hander, a first-time MLB All-Star this season, posted his fourth straight win and held opponents to a run or less for his fourth consecutive start. He finished at least seven innings for the 14th time this season, the most of any pitcher in the majors.
“It really was kind of a must-win (game) for us,” San Francisco manager Bob Melvin said. “Those are the guys you want on the mound in those types of games, and he came as advertised.”
Webb threw 104 pitches, striking out seven batters and holding the Braves to four hits before departing with runners at the corners and two outs in the eighth. Webb said his arm strength has been improving the past couple starts.
“Whenever as a starter you get a lead, it’s your job to maintain it,” Webb said. “The guys came out swinging today and playing great defense. It was a recipe for success, for sure.”
AP photo by Godofredo A. Vásquez / Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried, center, hands the ball over to manager Brian Snitker as he exits during the sixth inning of Thursday’s game against the host San Francisco Giants.McCray, after going hitless in his MLB debut Wednesday, went 2-for-3 and hit a solo homer in the sixth inning to make it 5-0. With his father, former MLB player Rodney McCray, watching from the stands, the Giants’ 11th-ranked prospect also had a bunt single in the second inning, with his first MLB hit driving in a run to make it 1-0.
“I just blacked out, honestly,” McCray said. “I rounded second and was like, ‘This is for real, got it out of the way, finally.’ Just overwhelmed with excitement.”
His homer followed a two-run blast by Casey Schmitt earlier in the sixth that doubled the Giants’ lead from 2-0 to 4-0.
McCray said his nerves got the best of him in his first game, but he entered Thursday with a different attitude.
“Today I just came in with the mindset of it’s just another game. Play hard and do your job,” McCray said.
San Francisco scored two runs in the second inning after loading the bases with nobody out. Tyler Fitzgerald’s sacrifice fly after McCray’s hit made it 2-0.
The Giants pulled back to .500 for the season at 62-62. Atlanta, which had lost seven of eight games heading to San Francisco, fell to 64-57.
Braves starter Max Fried (7-7), who pitched into the sixth, allowed three runs and struck out five batters. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said the 30-year-old left-hander — an MLB All-Star for the second time this season — struggled at times but limited the damage.
Atlanta’s lineup, though, was “shut down” by Webb, the manager said.
“You can tell when he came out, he was on mission,” Snitker said. “He was going to give their bullpen a break, and he did. And he was efficient. Very, very competitive guy with really good stuff. And with that sinker, really throws a lot of strikes. He’s a tough ride.”
Braves outfielder Jorge Soler, who exited Wednesday’s game with left hamstring tightness, was diagnosed with a mild strain after undergoing an MRI on Thursday. He is considered day to day.
Atlanta will wrap up a 10-game road series with three matchups against the Los Angeles Angels this weekend. The probable starting pitchers for both teams in Friday’s opener are right-handers, with Atlanta’s Spencer Schwellenbach (4-5, 3.95 ERA) set to oppose Jose Soriano (6-7, 3.36).