Olson, Braves' bats stay hot in win over Marlins

ATLANTA -- Suddenly, the Braves are red hot.

After dropping six of seven games out of the All-Star break, Atlanta has turned it around of late with Thursday night’s 4-2 win over the Marlins at Truist Park marking the club's fifth win in six games.

Atlanta is 6-1 against Miami this season and clinched the season set against the Marlins for a 10th consecutive season dating to 2015.

“We’re due a run [and] it’s good to see,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’d be nice to string together some other things every now and then, but if not, we’re going to start [hitting for power].”

Atlanta blasted three home runs on Thursday.

The Braves got to Marlins starter Max Meyer early with three runs in the first and one in the third. Third baseman Austin Riley got the party started with a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

First baseman Matt Olson added to the first-inning lead with a two-run shot following a single by designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. Olson has been trending in the right direction as he’s gone deep five times in the past six games.

“That’s probably one of the most encouraging things, to see how he’s getting himself going and confident and everything," Snitker said. "The way he’s been hitting, that will do it.”

Shortstop Orlando Arcia extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a solo home run off Meyer in the bottom of the third.

“I just keep a strong mind and a positive attitude,” Arcia said through interpreter Franco García. “No matter what you’re going through as a ballplayer, if you can keep that strong mind, you’ll move forward.”

Added Snitker: “He looks great. Hats off to him for hanging with himself, and now, he kind of looks like his old self. He’s playing great defense, too. That’s really great to see.”

Over the past six games, the Braves have outscored their opponents 31-14 while hitting 15 home runs.

“We’re hitting again,” Snitker said. “The bullpen continues to be really solid. The starting pitching has been really good. The biggest thing has been [scoring] runs and putting together something consistent offensively. We’re kind of scratching the surface of doing that.”

Atlanta was outscored 41-21 in the first seven games following the All-Star break.

“It’s the same thing as always," Arcia said. "We just go out there and do our jobs -- hit the ball hard and whatever happens, happens."

The three homers were more than enough support for Braves starter Charlie Morton, who allowed one unearned run on five hits over six innings while striking out six and walking two.

“When the guys are on, that’s how we score,” Morton said. “We have guys that are good bat-to-ball guys, and I think we have plenty of good hitters. When they’re being themselves, there’s power, there’s pop. That’s really what you want to see.”

In his second game back with the Braves since being acquired from the Giants at the Trade Deadline on Monday, right fielder Jorge Soler went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. The 2021 World Series MVP is 0-for-6 with three strikeouts in his first two games back with Atlanta.

Soler had served exclusively as a designated hitter with the Giants this season, so Snitker is easing Soler into his position in right field.

“I thought he’s done really well in the outfield,” Snitker said. “I’m going to see how his legs are [every day] and try to get him out of the game when we can. It’s kind of like Spring Training a little bit to get his body back in game shape to play the outfield every day. I think it’s been good the last two days.”

The Braves were 9 1/2 games back of the National League East-leading Phillies as recently as Saturday, but they now find themselves just six games back after Thursday’s win.