Atlanta Braves pitcher Ian Anderson throws against the San Francisco Giants line up at Suntrust Park in Cobb County as Anderson and five relievers combined for a five hit shutout on Sun Aug 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Jorge Soler loves to hit home runs and he showed it twice over the weekend in a big series between National League Division leaders.

Soler, who hit a three-run home run on Friday night, added a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, helping the Atlanta Braves to a 9-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park. This was the first series for the Giants since they lost a series to the Pittsburgh Pirates from July 23-25, a span of nine series.

Following the Soler home run, his 20th of the season, Freddie Freeman reached on an infield single and then Austin Riley made it 3-0, when hit his 28th home run for the Braves, who took two out of three from the NL West Leading Giants.

Eddie Rosario broke the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a two-run triple and then Ozzie Albies hit his 23rd home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth.

Ian Anderson made his return to the starting rotation for the Braves, as he allowed just four hits and walked two in 5.2 innings. It was the first start for Anderson since July 11, as he was out with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Anthony DeSclafani also was making his first start since coming off the injured list himself, as he was battling inflammation in his right ankle.

DeSclafani retired the first six batters he faced in the game, and then Rosario singled to start the bottom of the third inning for the Braves and DeSclafani was able to get out of the jam unscathed, when he got Albies to strikeout to end the inning.

After he allowed an infield single to Dansby Swanson with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning, DeSclafani left the game, as he allowed three runs and six hits in those three innings and he saw his record fall to 11-6 on the season.

NOTES: Prior to the game, Brandon Belt was activated from the bereavement list, DeSclafani was activated from the injured list. To make room for Belt and DeSclafani, Thairo Estrada was optioned to Sacramento and Tyler Chatwood was designated for assignment.

With their 15th shutout of the season on Saturday night, the Giants tied Milwaukee Brewers for the most shutouts in the Major Leagues. The last Giants team to have more than 15 shutouts in a season was the 2015 team, who threw 18 shutouts on the season.

Thru 130 games, the Giants are 84-46, just one game behind the best Giants in the San Francisco era, as the 1993 team was 85-45 on their way to a second-place finish in the NL West and finished 103-59, one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL West.

UP NEXT: Johnny Cueto opens the seven-game home stand for the Giants, as he looks for his eighth win of the season, while the Brewers will send Corbin Burnes to the hill and will go for his ninth win of the season for the NL Central Leading Brewers.