Atlanta Braves vs Cleveland Guardians Box Score on Jul 03, 2023

Michael Harris II homered twice and the visiting Atlanta Braves stretched their winning streak to nine games with a 4-2 victory against the Cleveland Guardians in the opener of a three-game series on Monday night.

Marcell Ozuna also went deep for the Braves, who have won 17 of 18 and 24 of 27 to move 30 games over .500 (57-27).

Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder (7-1) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Elder, who came into the game with the second-lowest ERA in the majors (2.44) and was selected to the NL All-Star team on Sunday, struck out one and walked two.

Cleveland rookie right-hander Gavin Williams (0-1) allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two in his third major league start.

Steven Kwan had three hits, Amed Rosario had two hits and two RBIs and Myles Straw also contributed two hits for the Guardians, who had won two in a row.

The Braves homered for the 21st consecutive game when Harris went deep with one out in the third for a 1-0 lead.

Ronald Acuna Jr. followed with a single and then stole his 40th base of the season before scoring on a single by Ozzie Albies for a 2-0 lead.

Ozuna blasted an opposite-field home run to right with two outs in the fourth to stretch the lead to 3-0 and extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

Harris went deep again with one out in the fifth, lifting an 0-2 fastball into the seats in left for a 4-0 lead.

Elder retired the side just once through the first six innings.

He had two outs and one on base with two outs in the seventh but couldn't get the final out of the inning and preserve the shutout, instead surrendering a double to Kwan followed by a two-run single from Rosario to make it 4-2 and end his outing.

A.J. Minter got the final out of the inning and Nick Anderson recorded the final out of the eighth after relieving Minter with two on and two outs.

Raisel Iglesias pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save in 17 tries.

--Field Level Media