Spencer Strider, Braves blank Giants for third straight shutout

Spencer Strider allowed one hit and struck out 10 batters over seven scoreless innings and Michael Harris II had four hits to fuel the host Atlanta Braves to a 4-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

Strider, who became the first 14-game winner in the majors this season, retired the first nine batters he faced before issuing a walk to LaMonte Wade Jr. to lead off the fourth inning. Strider (14-4) permitted a one-out single to Wilmer Flores before retiring the next two batters to end the threat.

Harris scored on a double from Austin Riley in the second inning and collected his fourth hit with an RBI single in the sixth. Harris fell a homer shy of the cycle for the Braves, who recorded their third straight shutout and majors-best 14th of the season.

Joe Jimenez put the first two batters he faced on base to start the eighth inning before retiring the next two batters. A.J. Minter induced Austin Slater to line out to end the inning, and Raisel Iglesias struck out two in the ninth to secure Atlanta's fourth win in a row.

Giants bench coach Kai Correa ran the team while manager Gabe Kapler served a one-game suspension. Major League Baseball issued the ban and an undisclosed fine after Kapler returned to the dugout following a fourth-inning ejection for arguing balls and strikes during San Francisco's 7-0 home win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.

Atlanta got off to a fast start in the first inning as Ronald Acuna Jr. singled off Alex Cobb (6-5) and advanced to third on a base hit from Harris. Acuna scored on a fielder's choice from Matt Olson, and the latter crossed the plate two batters later when Eddie Rosario singled to center field to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.

Atlanta added to its lead in the second inning after Harris tripled to center field and came around to score on Riley's double to left field.

Harris gave the Braves a 4-0 lead when his single to center field plated Sean Murphy. That closed the book on Cobb, who yielded four runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to fall to 0-3 in seven starts since the All-Star break.