ATLANTA (AP) — Dansby Swanson hit two home runs and the Atlanta Braves built a big lead early before holding off the San Francisco Giants 7-6 Thursday for their 18th win in 21 games this month.
Swason, who homered to begin a three-run rally in the ninth inning for a 4-3 win over the Giants a night earlier, had three hits and drove in three runs.
Swanson hit a leadoff home run in the first and connected again in the fourth, his 12th, for a 7-1 lead. It was his seventh career multihomer game, the last coming Aug. 14, 2021, at Washington.
Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run single in a five-run second inning as the Braves tagged Alex Wood (5-6).
The defending World Series champion Braves moved 11 games over .500 for the first time this season. They have won 10 of their last 11 home games, outscoring the opposition 60-33 and hitting 24 homers to opponents’ 10.
Atlanta closed within four games of the New York Mets in the NL East.
San Francisco, which grounded into four double plays in the first four innings, has dropped four of five.
Atlanta starter Kyle Wright (8-4) allowed 10 hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Wright got Evan Longoria to ground into a double play with the bases loaded to end the first. He gave up an RBI single to Curt Casali in the second and a homer to Austin Slater that made it 7-2.
Tommy La Stella hit an RBI double as the Giants scored twice in the sixth and chased Wright. Jesse Chavez relieved and walked pinch-hitter Brandon Belt to load the bases before Mike Yastrzemski struck out for the fourth time to end the threat.
Will Smith gave up Slater’s RBI single in the eighth to make it 7-5.
Kenley Jansen recorded his 19th save in 22 chances, and the 369th of his career to pass Jonathan Papelbon for 10th place on the career list. Joc Pederson, who played…
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