Michael Harris II’s bat, Hurston Waldrep’s arm, and a historic moment in Major League Baseball combined to headline the Atlanta Braves’ 7-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday afternoon at Truist Park in the opener of a doubleheader.
While Harris delivered a go-ahead double and a late three-run homer, and Waldrep dominated in his second start of the season, the day’s most notable moment came courtesy of the umpiring crew. Jen Pawol, working first base, became the first female umpire in an MLB game, adding her name to the sport’s history books. Pawol is set to work third base in the nightcap and call balls and strikes in Sunday’s series finale.
Atlanta jumped out quickly, plating two runs in the second inning on RBI hits from Ozzie Albies and Eli White. The Marlins, who started six rookies in their lineup along with rookie starter Ryan Gusto, found themselves chasing early.
Gusto (7-5), making his Miami debut after being acquired from Houston at the trade deadline, kept the game close until the late innings. He pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
Waldrep (2-0) continued his strong start to the year, giving up just one run on four hits and one walk over six innings, striking out six. The rookie right-hander has now allowed only two runs in 11 2/3 innings across his first two starts.
A key defensive moment helped keep his afternoon clean. In the fourth inning, Braves left fielder Jurickson Profar scaled the wall in front of the Marlins’ bullpen to rob Agustín Ramírez of a home run. Waldrep could only hold his head in disbelief as Profar came down with the ball.
After Miami’s Xavier Edwards singled in their lone run in the sixth inning, the Braves pulled away in the seventh. Harris, who went 2-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and three RBI, crushed his 11th home run of the season — a three-run shot to right-center that blew the game open. Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin added two hits and two RBI for Atlanta.
Pawol’s debut marked a long-anticipated breakthrough for women in baseball officiating. A former collegiate softball star and USA Baseball Women’s National Team catcher, she began her professional umpiring career in 2016 and steadily climbed the ranks of the minor leagues before earning her MLB call-up this week.
Game 2 of the doubleheader was scheduled for Saturday evening, with Pawol moving to third base as her historic weekend continued.
