Atlanta Braves clinch 8th playoff berth in 9 years with victory over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson each hit a two-run homer as the Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

The first-place Braves secured at least a National League wild card and reduced their magic number to three to win the NL East. Atlanta is heading to the postseason for the eighth time in nine years.

The loss dropped Houston into a tie with Texas atop the AL West when the Rangers beat Toronto 7-1. The Astros hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after winning the season series.

Olson hit his 40th home run in the ninth inning to make him the fifth player in franchise history with multiple 40-homer seasons after he set a Braves record with 54 in 2023.

Harris, who had three hits, gave the Braves a 2-0 lead with his homer off Peter Lambert (8-10) in the fourth. They were clinging to a one-run lead with one on and one out in the seventh when Acuña connected off Bennett Sousa to make it 4-1.

The Astros had runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth when an RBI single by Isaac Paredes cut the lead to 4-2. Jose Altuve hit a flyball to shallow right field but Acuña made a diving catch to end the inning.

Tyler Mahle (7-10) allowed three hits and a run with six strikeouts in six innings to help the Braves to their second win in five games.

Lambert yielded six hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings. He remained winless since July 11.

Olson singled with one out in the fourth before Harris put the Braves on top with his shot to the seats in left field.

Yordan Alvarez got Houston’s first hit on a double with no outs in the fourth. The Astros cut the lead to one when he scored on a single by Paredes.

Houston had runners at first and third with one out in the inning, but Mahle retired Christian Walker on a flyout to shallow center and Taylor Trammell on a groundout to escape the jam.

Up next

Atlanta RHP Grant Holmes (9-5, 3.49 ERA) opposes RHP Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.70) when the series continues Saturday night.

By Kristie Rieken