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Atlanta Braves set MLB record for home runs prior to All-Star break

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•07/08/23•

BarkleyTruax

Sean Murphy
(Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves made history Friday night after hitting their 167th home run of the 2023 season, passing the 2019 Minnesota Twins for the most long balls of any team before the All-Star break in MLB history, according to ESPN.

Braves catcher Sean Murphy was responsible for the record-breaking homer, which scored the only two runs for Atlanta en route to defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1. The win helps push the Braves (59-28) away from Tampa (57-34) in the overall standings, as both teams came into the series with the best records in baseball.

Ultimately, Atlanta was held to just two hits in the game. Aside from Murphy’s moonshot, first baseman Matt Olson singled to center field in the sixth. The Braves were allowed one walk on the night, so if it weren’t for Murphy’s single swing — this would be a completely different story and the Rays would have tied the Braves for the most wins in the league to this point.

The homer came in the top of the fourth inning, capping off a stretch that included Murphy throwing out Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz at second in the bottom of the third.

The loss is the sixth straight for Tampa Bay and company, the longest losing streak this season. After starting out 13-0 and tying the modern major league record for wins to start a season, the Rays are still three games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles at the top of the AL East — a testament to how dominant of a season they’ve had to this point. It’s even more impressive when you take into account that they play in the only division where every team is above .500.

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Still, the Braves continue to steamroll their way through the meat and potatoes of their 2023 MLB season, which is why they have the best record in the league and are 9.5 games ahead of the Miami Marlins — who is having a historic season themselves — for first place in their own division.

Both teams will match up once again for Saturday Night Baseball at 7:15 p.m. ET inside Tropicana Field live on FOX. The Braves head into the afternoon as betting favorites (-165), according to Caesars Sportsbook. The over/under run total is set at eight.

Braves star Spencer Strider (10-2, 3.66 ERA) is set to pitch for Atlanta, while Tampa is expected to have Taj Bradley (5-4, 5.27 ERA) throw the first pitch.