Bullpen leads Braves to win over Astros

Four Atlanta relievers combined for 4 1/3 shutout innings, and the Braves used a four-run ninth inning to defeat the Houston Astros 6-1 on Monday.

Aaron Bummer (1-1), Pierce Johnson, and A.J. Minter allowed three hits and two strikeouts while recording ten outs to keep a one-run lead before the first five batters reached against Astros closer Josh Hader in the ninth inning.

Orlando Arcia, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, and Michael Harris II all scored in the final inning, as Hader was charged with four runs on four hits and one walk while recording one out.

Jesse Chavez pitched a hitless ninth inning to secure Atlanta’s third win in four games.

The Braves’ two-out rally in the second inning against Astros rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (0-2) lasted until their surge in the ninth.

Arrighetti worked past Riley’s two-out single in the first inning and swiftly retired the first two batters in the second before things went wrong. Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud led off the rally with a double and scored two batters later when Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena threw wildly to first on Luis Guillorme’s infield single, tying the game at 1-1.

Ronald Acuna Jr. followed with an 11-pitch walk, loaded the bases for Ozzie Albies, who scored on Arrighetti’s 1-2 pitch, driving Jarred Kelenic home. Arrighetti tossed 31 pitches with two outs, and although finishing four innings, the damage was done.

Braves right-hander Darius Vines, summoned from Triple-A Gwinnett to make his first major league appearance of the season, performed well enough to nearly win his second career game.

The Astros scored a run in the first inning when Alex Bregman singled home Kyle Tucker, who reached on a two-out double and stole second base. Vines followed by walking Yainer Diaz, but the damage was limited to a single run.

In 4 2/3 innings, Vines allowed one run on four hits and three walks, while striking out four. He threw eighty pitches.

Riley had three hits for Atlanta, and Jose Altuve had three for Houston.