Braves' 8-game win streak snapped behind late collapse, spoiling Tyler Mahle's debut

Aug 7, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tyler Mahle (54) follows through on a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With Tyler Mahle making his Atlanta debut and New York's Max Fried facing his former team for the first time, it's safe to say Friday night's series opener between the Braves and Yankees was among the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season.

Both of them more than delivered on the high expectations.

Each starter tossed six-plus scoreless innings, pushing the game into being decided by the respective bullpens.

But all of that will be forgotten after the Braves built and then subsequently blew a two-run lead in the final two innings of regulation, falling 3-2 in 10 innings and having their eight-game winning streak snapped.

After Austin Riley and Matt Olson delivered solo homers in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, Braves closer Raisel Iglesias took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

An Iglesias throwing error on an infield chopper followed by RBI doubles from Austin Wells and Ben Rice leveled the score, as Iglesias blow just his third save in 27 opportunities this season.

Dylan Dodd entered with the bases loaded after a HBP and got a groundout to second to send the game to extras. But after the Braves were held off the board in the top of the 10th when Luis Garcia Jr. ran down a blooper to shallow right, the Yankees loaded the bases with one out on an intentional walk followed by an unintentional walk off Tyler Kinley (6-5) before a sacrifice fly to right from Ryan McMahon brought home the winning run.

The collapse ruined a special debut for Mahle. A solid trade-deadline acquisition who many were frustrated was the only starting pitcher the Braves added, the right-hander delivered one of his best starts of the season in his Braves debut.

He tossed six scoreless innings on 92 pitches, scattering three hits and two walks and tying his season high with nine strikeouts, the most in six-plus scoreless innings by a Braves pitcher making his debut in franchise history. The fastball touched 96 mph, and the splitter got some nasty swings as it plummeted below the strike zone.

He was only moderately in danger twice, navigating those jams exceptionally well. After giving up a leadoff double to recent teammate Heliot Ramos in the bottom of the fourth, Mahle retired the next two batters on popouts and then got a leaping catch at the wall from Dubón to escape the threat unscathed.

Ryan McMahon doubled with one out in the fifth for New York, but Mahle retired the next two to again not let a runner reach third, which never happened in his six innings of work.

In other positive news, Riley's homer was his fifth in 21 games since the All-Star break, while Olson's was his second in as many nights, fifth in the last seven games and his 33rd of the season, moving him just two behind major league leader Yordan Alvarez.

The way the game played out made a ghastly first-inning baserunning error from Ozzie Albies that much worse.

After a one-out Drake Baldwin single followed by an Albies walk, Mauricio Dubón grounded a single into left-center. Baldwin would have scored with ease, were it not for Albies attempting to go first to third and getting easily tagged out mere milliseconds before Baldwin's foot touched home plate. A one-run inning with a chance for more went wasting.

After an erratic beginning to Fried's outing, he settled in well, retiring the final 12 batters he faced. The former Braves standout finished by working around three hits and two walks for 6 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven.

Cruz retired the first two batters he faced to run the consecutive batters retired streak to 14 before Riley led off the Braves eighth with his solo homer.

The Braves nearly tacked on more later in the inning as Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin delivered consecutive two-out singles to put runners on the corners. But Albies struck out to strand them there.

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →