Muller Gets 1st Career Win, Braves Beat Reds 4-0 For Split
Kyle Muller earned his first career victory, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley hit solo homers, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Sunday to split a four-game series.
Muller (1-1) who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game, retired the first seven batters he faced and cruised through five scoreless innings, allowing one hit with a career-high nine strikeouts.
Muller’s first win came in his second start and third career appearance.
“It makes me feel like a big leaguer,” Muller said. “It’s really, really cool. Anyone coming into the big leagues is looking to have success early. Just knowing your stuff plays. It’s a big confidence boost.”
Five relievers followed Muller, with only Shane Greene allowing a hit, to complete the two-hitter. Ender Inciarte’s catch against the wall in center robbed Joey Votto of an extra-base hit off Greene in the eighth.
“Muller made a lot of good pitches,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He threw a lot of 3-2 breaking balls. We went deep into counts and almost broke through a few times.”
The Braves went 8-for-53 with runners in scoring position in the series, but a pair of two-out RBI singles by Acuña and Freddie Freeman got them on the board in the third.
Acuña’s solo homer to center, his 21st of the season, made the score 3-0 in the fifth.
Riley led off the sixth with his 13th homer of the season, his first since June 13.
The struggles continued at Great American Ball Park for right-hander Tyler Mahle (7-3), who came in with a 6.93 ERA in five starts at home and a 2.01 ERA on the road. He gave up four runs on six hits in six innings, walking one and striking out seven, and was outshined by the rookie Muller.
“He used his secondary pitches to get himself ahead in counts,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He was aggressive, had unbelievable pace.”
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