ATLANTA BRAVES DROP SERIES FINALE IN TEXAS TO RANGERS, ONWARD TO NEW YORK FOR SET AGAINST NL-EAST LEADING METS; ROME BRAVES DROP HOMESTAND FINALE

The Atlanta Braves fell to the Texas Rangers 7-3 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three game set out in Arlington, Texas, which allowed the Rangers to take the weekend series by two games to one.

The Rangers took an early lead with one run in the bottom of the first inning and two more in the second. The Braves made it 3-2 in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Matt Olson and an RBI single by Austin Riley.

But the Rangers came charging back with four runs during the bottom of that inning, including a sac squeeze-bunt by Rome, GA native Charlie Culberson and a three-run triple by Adolis Garcia.

The Braves notched one more run on a sac fly by Dansby Swanson during the ninth before falling to the Rangers, again, by a final score of 7-3.

Kyle Muller was charged with the loss for Atlanta in his season debut after surrendering seven runs and four hits, walking six, and striking out three over just two and two-third innings. Taylor Hearn got the win for Texas.

The Braves will be in New York tonight for the first of four National League East games versus the Mets. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm. The game will be broadcast on WLAQ 1410 AM/96.9 FM; air time is 5:55 pm.

New York currently leads the NL East with a record of 16-7, while Atlanta is in fourth place at 10-13.

And in a minor league update, the Rome Braves ended a six-game homestand with a loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers 7-6 on Sunday at AdventHealth Stadium. The home team lost the game, but took the series 4-2. Rome is off today and will return to action on Tuesday evening in Greenville, SC with the first of six games versus the Drive.