Atlanta Braves slugger Jorge Soler slugs one so far out of the park for a three run home run in the eighth inning that it helps keep the game close against the San Francisco Giants at Suntrust Park in Cobb County (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Joc Pederson maybe from the Bay Area, but he will do anything to beat the San Francisco Giants and he did it again in the opener.

Pederson made a fantastic catch, as overran the ball and crashed into a wall for the final out and the Atlanta Braves hung on to defeat the Giants 6-5 at Truist Park.

Tommy La Stella hit the ill-fated pitch that Pederson caught, as La Stella attempted to tie up the game off of Braves closer and former Giants closer Will Smith, who was able to notch his 29th save of the season.

The Giants were able to get to Smith earlier in the inning, as Wilmer Flores led off the ninth with a home run; however, Smith was able to get out of the jam and end the Giants five-game winning streak.

Following the catch, the umpires did go to the video review and it was confirmed that Pederson did catch the ball for the final out.

Jorge Soler gave the Braves the lead for good, as he hit the first pitch he saw from Zack Littell and put it into the left field seats to give the Braves a 6-4 lead.

Littell replaced Tony Watson, who came on to replace Kevin Gausman in the bottom of the seventh inning and struck out former Giant Adam Duvall for the first out. Pederson then walked and then Guillermo Heredia came off the bench and singled.

Ozzie Albies then doubled in Pederson and was the end of the night for Watson, and then Sler hit a 430 foot three-run home run to give the Braves the lead for good.

Georgia native Buster Posey gave the Giants an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit an opposite field two-run home run just inside the right field foul pole.

After a 35-minute rain delay in the first inning, Kris Bryant left the game due to right side tightness and according to Giants manager Gabe Kapler, the decision to pull Bryant was made before the delay.

The Giants lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers remained at 2.5 games, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Dodgers 4-2 at Dodger Stadium.

Gausman went the first six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, not walking anyone and two strikeouts, as he did not fare in the decision.

Max Fried like Gausman also went six innings, as he gave up four runs (three earned), not walking a batter and struck out five and also did not get a decision.

NOTES: Gausman was activated from the injured list, and Chadwick Tromp was optioned to Sacramento to make room for Gausman.

The home run by Posey was the 194th by the team this season, as they continue to lead the majors in that category over the Toronto Blue Jays.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb goes for his eighth win of the season for the Giants, as he takes the mound on Saturday. The Braves will Huascar Yoa to the mound, as he looks for his fifth win of the season.