Giants beat Braves on Logan Webb’s win in Atlanta

ATLANTA — Logan Webb may have just needed a moment to look around and remember where he was.

Soon, the San Francisco Giants felt comfortable again in what has become their home away from home — though the Atlanta Braves would surely prefer the right-hander not feel so welcome when he steps onto the mound at their stadium.

Webb recovered from a mediocre first inning to continue his history of strong performances at Truist Park, and the Giants beat the Braves 4-2 on Thursday night to win the three-game series after the teams split the first two games.

Matt Chapman hit a tiebreaking home run off Charlie Morton in the Giants’ three-run fourth inning and added a RBI double in the sixth inning to help San Francisco win its seventh in 10 games and third straight in the series.

Webb (7-6) allowed two runs in the first inning but then pitched six scoreless innings as the 27-year-old California native improved to 3-0 in five career starts in Atlanta.

“It’s a great atmosphere, a great stadium,” Webb said.

Webb allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out six in his seven-inning, 104-pitch outing.

“I feel like I’ve settled in,” Webb said, before adding that he was frustrated by his first-run struggles.

Entering the game, his 4.50 first-inning ERA was more than a point higher than his overall mark of 3.12.

“I’ve got to find a solution in the first inning,” Webb said. “I don’t know what it is. I can’t tell you. I can’t keep giving up two or three runs in every first inning.”

San Francisco reliever Tyler Rogers pitched a perfect eighth inning and Camilo Doval pitched the ninth for his second save of the series and 16th of the season in 19 chances. Marcell Ozuna led off with an infield hit before Doval got three straight outs, including strikeouts of Matt Olson and Adam Duvall.

The Braves did not have more than one hit in any inning after the first.

“It’s the offense that’s the problem,” receiver Sean Murphy said. “We didn’t put the right guys in.”

AP Photo by Jason Allen/San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb meets catcher Patrick Bailey on the mound during the fifth inning of Thursday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

Still, Morton (5-5) continued his uneven performance, with the 40-year-old right-hander unable to carry his strong start against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday and failing to win back-to-back games this year. Morton allowed all four runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings against the Giants and was unable to protect a 2-0 lead to start the season.

Heliot Ramos hit a tying two-run home run 424 feet to center field in the fourth inning. With one out, Chapman hit the game-tying shot, his 12th home run this season, to left field. Chapman added a run-scoring double in the sixth inning.

The Giants improved to 43-45, but still sit in fourth place in the National League West, 10 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Ozzie Albies’ double and a throwing error by right fielder Mike Yastrzemski allowed Jarred Kelenic to score from first base. Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly allowed Albies to score.

Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia (tooth abscess) missed his third straight game and was home again. Arcia could be placed on the disabled list if he is not sufficiently improved by Friday.

The Braves also could be on the verge of going on injured reserve with outfielder Ramón Laureano (lower back soreness), who was signed in May after starting right fielder and leadoff hitter Ronald Acuña Jr. (torn ACL), the 2023 National League MVP, was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Starting center fielder Michael Harris II (hamstring) has been on the injured list since mid-June and is expected to be out at least a month.

However, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said he was OK after being pierced on the dugout steps by a foul ball hit by Albies Wednesday night. Although the ball hit the 68-year-old manager below his belt, Snitker said it was “a little high” to avoid a more painful outcome.

The Giants got some good health news after left-hander Blake Snell (left adductor strain), the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, pitched five hitless innings for Triple-A Sacramento and recorded nine strikeouts in what is expected to be his final rehab outing before returning to San Francisco’s rotation next week.

Another Giants left-hander, Kyle Harrison (right ankle sprain), is expected to come off the injured list to start Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians.

Atlanta has played six games of a nine-game homestand that will conclude with a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies, followed by four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks and three against the San Diego Padres. That road series will be followed by a midseason break for the MLB All-Star Game on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Although the Braves are the six-time defending NL East champions, with a 47-38 record, they currently sit a distant second in the division standings, nine games behind the MLB-leading Phillies (57-30).

Philadelphia has made the playoffs as a wild card the past two years and eliminated Atlanta in the divisional round twice, reaching the World Series in 2022 and the NL Championship Series last fall. The rivals will meet for the first time since their season-opening series in Philadelphia, where the Braves won two of three games.

The starting pitchers scheduled for Friday’s game are Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (7-3, 2.91 ERA) and Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola (9-4, 3.43).