By Roger White

Albers arm and bat help Mariners edge Braves

Aug 22, 2017 | 12:00 PM

The Atlanta Braves may regret giving up on Andrew Albers.

The 31-year-old North Battleford product used both his arm and his bat to help the Seattle Mariners edge his former team 6-5 last night at SunTrust Park in Atlanta.

Albers (2-0) pitched five solid innings giving up four runs on six hits while striking out three Braves before turning the ball over to the bullpen. He also contributed offensively by driving in Mitch Haniger from third base in the second inning to notch his first career hit and RBI in his first ever major league plate appearance.

Albers began the 2017 season with the Atlanta Braves spending his entire time in the organization with their AAA affiliate, the Gwinnett Braves, where despite compiling a 12-3 record still could not crack the Braves line-up despite the team’s dismal performance on the mound.

The Mariners purchased Albers’ contract on Aug. 11 to help fill roster holes with their pitching staff that was decimated by injuries.

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In his two starts since returning to the big leagues he pitched 10 innings, giving up 12 hits and four earned runs. He has also struck out seven batters while walking two batters.

Coincidentally, since Albers’ arrival the Mariners have gone 5-1 and have got back in the American League Wild Card race. Seattle trails the Minnesota Twins by one game for the second Wild Card position and are three and a half games back of the New York Yankees for the first wild card spot.

The Mariners continue their interleague play with the Braves until Wednesday then they will head to the Bronx to take on the Yankees in a crucial three-game series beginning Friday.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW