WATCH: Travis d'Arnaud launches a solo shot to inch the Braves closer
The Braves backstop Travis d'Arnaud launched a 400-foot bomb into the Florida air to cut into the Tampa Bay lead.
This homer cut the lead to 4-2 at the time, but the Rays stretched the lead back to 7-2 after a big inning in the bottom of the fourth.
Bryce Elder has been rocked in this game, leading to his worst start of the season.
Hopefully, the d'Arnaud homer can wake up the rest of the bats leading to the Braves getting back into this ball game.
Let's take a look at d'Arnaud's solo shot over the left-field wall.
Pitching Matchup for the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, July 9th
Atlanta's sending All-Star Bryce Elder to the mound for the series finale. 7-1 with a 2.45 ERA on the season, Elder's struck out 80 batters in his 102.2 innings. He's never faced Tampa Bay, and no one in this lineup has a major league at-bat against him.
Tampa's trying to salvage the series behind Zach Eflin. He's currently 9-4 with a 3.24 ERA in his sixteen starts this season, with 100 strikeouts in 97.1 innings. It's his first season in Tampa Bay, but he's a familiar opponent to these Atlanta Braves: He debuted for Philadelphia in 2016 and spent the first seven years of his career as a Philly. Most members of the starting lineup, with the exception of CF Michael Harris II, have faced Eflin numerous times, and several Braves (Ronald Acuña Jr, Ozzie Albies, Travis d'Arnaud) have taken him deep.
How to Watch the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, July 9th
Today's final game before the All-Star Break is a 1:40 ET first pitch, and the broadcast will be on Bally Sports Southeast. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.
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