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Michael Harris hits grand slam in 1st at-bat in injury return, Braves rout Giants 13-2

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Michael Harris hits grand slam in 1st at-bat in injury return, Braves rout Giants 13-2
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Michael Harris hits grand slam in 1st at-bat in injury return, Braves rout Giants 13-2

2024-08-15 13:09 Last Updated At:13:20

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Michael Harris hit a grand slam in his first at-bat after missing nearly two months because of a hamstring injury, helping the Atlanta Braves rout the San Francisco Giants 13-2 on Wednesday night.

Activated from the injured list before the game, Harris crushed an 0-1 curveball from Robbie Ray (2-2) into McCovey Cove for his first career grand slam and Atlanta’s fourth of the season. It was the first grand slam hit into McCovey Cove by an opposing player in the 24-year history of Oracle Park.

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San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller, foreground, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller, foreground, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jarred Kelenic watches his two-run double against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jarred Kelenic watches his two-run double against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, center right, celebrates with Orlando Arcia (11) after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, center right, celebrates with Orlando Arcia (11) after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, celebrates with Michael Harris II (23) after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, celebrates with Michael Harris II (23) after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II throws his bat after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II throws his bat after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II watches his grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II watches his grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II hits a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II hits a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

“I was just trying to be aggressive,” Harris said. “It’s crazy because I told myself before the game, I think I’ve seen somebody hit a grand slam and I told myself I’d never hit one. Went up there and did it first AB back. Pretty cool.”

Grant Holmes (1-0) had six strikeouts in seven innings in his first career victory. The 28-year-old rookie allowed eight hits and two runs. Former Giants pitcher Luke Jackson and Jimmy Herget retired three batters each to finish the game.

Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Sean Murphy also homered for Atlanta in the Braves’ third consecutive victory over the Giants.

San Francisco used outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to pitch the ninth inning. Yastrzemski threw 29 pitches and allowed two runs, two hits and three walks.

Tyler Fitzgerald hit his 14th home run of the season and 16th of his career for the Giants. Fitzgerald and late Hall of Famer Willie Mays are the only players in franchise history to hit at least 16 home runs in their first 60 career games. Mays had 17.

Olson hit his 21st home run off Sean Hjelle in the third. Riley connected off Erik Miller in the fifth.

Jarred Kelenic added a two-run double for Atlanta in the sixth, and Murphy hit a two-run home run in the eighth.

That was enough support for Holmes, who had never pitched beyond five innings in any of his previous three starts.

“I was thinking tonight the last time I threw seven innings was 2017 (in the minors),” Holmes said. “So it was pretty cool to do that in the big leagues.”

The Giants have lost four straight. They continued to struggle offensively and stranded eight runners, leaving the bases loaded in the third.

Ray ran into trouble right away when he hit the first two batters with pitches. After Marcel Ozuna struck out looking, Ray walked Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia to force one run in. Following a mound visit by the Giants, Harris pushed the lead to 5-0 with his sixth home run of the season.

“That’s a way to make your entrance,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s just good to have him in there. He’s one of our guys and we’ve missed him. So it’s good to get him back out there and running around.”

Ray lasted only 2/3 of an inning, matching the shortest start of his career.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: Jorge Soler left the game with a tight left hamstring and is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday. … Harris had missed 52 games with a strained left hamstring. To make room, Atlanta optioned OF Eli White to Triple-A Gwinnett … Snitker said that RHP Reynaldo Lopez (right arm inflammation) will likely be activated early next week.

Giants: IF Marco Luciano was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. OF Grant McCray was called up. … RHP Tristan Beck (vascular arm surgery) pitched three innings and threw 48 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento.

UP NEXT

Giants RHP Logan Webb (10-8, 3.32 ERA) was set to face LHP Max Fried (7-6, 3.56) in the series finale Thursday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller, foreground, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller, foreground, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jarred Kelenic watches his two-run double against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jarred Kelenic watches his two-run double against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, center right, celebrates with Orlando Arcia (11) after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, center right, celebrates with Orlando Arcia (11) after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, celebrates with Michael Harris II (23) after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Jorge Soler, right, celebrates with Michael Harris II (23) after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II runs the bases after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II throws his bat after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II throws his bat after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II watches his grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II watches his grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II hits a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II hits a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

ROME (AP) — Human rights groups voiced outrage Wednesday after Italy released a Libyan warlord on a technicality, after he was arrested on a warrant from the International Criminal Court accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Hague-based court, for its part, issued a more diplomatic response but its anger appeared evident. In a stern statement late Wednesday, the ICC reminded Italy that it is obliged to “cooperate fully” with its prosecutions and said it was still awaiting information about what exactly Rome had done.

The reaction came after the Italian government on Tuesday released and sent back home Ossama Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, who heads the Tripoli branch of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution, a notorious network of detention centers run by the government-backed Special Defense Force.

Al-Masri had been arrested Sunday in Turin, where he reportedly had attended the Juventus-Milan soccer match the night before. The ICC warrant, dated the day before, accused al-Masri of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Mitiga prison in Libya starting in 2015 that are punishable with life in prison.

The ICC said he was accused of murder, torture, rape and sexual violence. It said the warrant was transmitted to member states on Saturday, including Italy, and that the court had also provided real-time information that he had entered Europe.

The court said it had reminded Italy at the time to contact it “without delay” if it ran into any problems cooperating with the warrant.

But Rome’s court of appeals ordered al-Masri freed Tuesday, and he was sent back to Libya aboard an aircraft of the Italian secret services, because of what the appeals court said was a procedural error in his arrest. The ruling said Justice Minister Carlo Nordio should have been informed ahead of time, since the justice ministry handles all relations with the ICC.

The ICC said it had not been given prior notice of the Rome court's decision, as required, and “is seeking, and is yet to obtain, verification from the authorities on the steps reportedly taken.”

Al-Masri returned to Tripoli late Tuesday, received at the Mitiga airport by supporters who celebrated his release, according to local media. Footage circulated online showed dozens of young men chanting and carrying what appeared to be al-Masri on their shoulders.

“This is a stunning blow to victims, survivors and international justice and a missed opportunity to break the cycle of impunity in Libya,” said Amnesty International’s Esther Major, deputy director of research for Europe.

Nordio appeared in the Senate on Wednesday for a previously-scheduled briefing, and was grilled by outraged opposition lawmakers who demanded clarity about what happened. Former Premier Matteo Renzi accused the right-wing government of hypocrisy given its stated crackdown on human traffickers.

“But when a trafficker whom the International Criminal Court tells us is a dangerous criminal lands on your table, it’s not like you chase him down, you brought him home to Libya with a plane of the Italian secret services,” said Renzi of the Italia Viva party. “Either you’ve gone crazy or this is the image of a hypocritical, indecent government.”

The Democratic Party demanded Premier Giorgia Meloni respond specifically to parliament about the case, saying it raised “grave questions” given the known abuses in Libyan prisons for which al-Masri is accused. Nordio didn't respond.

Italy has close ties to the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, on whom it relies to patrol its coasts and prevent waves of migrants from leaving. Any trial in The Hague of al-Masri could bring unwanted attention to Italy’s migration policies and its support of the Libyan coast guard, which it has financed to prevent migrants from leaving.

Human rights groups have documented gross abuses in the Libyan detention facilities where migrants are kept, and have accused Italy of being complicit in their mistreatment.

Two humanitarian groups, Mediterranea Saving Humans and Refugees in Libya, which have documented abuses committed against migrants in Libyan detention facilities, said they were incredulous that Italy let al-Masri go.

David Yambio, a 27-year-old from South Sudan who said he was abused by al-Masri while he was detained at the Mitiga prison in 2019-2020, said he felt betrayed by Italy. Yambio, who eventually escaped from the prison and arrived in Italy on a smuggler’s boat in 2022, said he had a “fleeting feeling of justice” when he heard that al-Masri had been arrested in Turin.

“Those who waited long before me, the Libyans who are victims of his criminal network, his war crimes, have been wanting for this day to come,” said Yambio, who received asylum and now lives in Modena and runs his Refugees in Libya advocacy group. “But when it came, it was immediately extinguished hours before it could even truly be felt in our hearts.”

But Tarik Lamloum, a Libyan activist working with the Belaady Organization for Human Rights which focuses on migrants in Libya, said Italy’s release of al-Masri was expected. He said his release shows the power of militias who control the flow of migrants to Europe through Libya’s shores.

“Tripoli militias are able to pressure (Italy) because they control the migrants file,” he told The Associated Press.

Militias in western Libya are part of the official state forces tasked with intercepting migrants at sea, including in the EU-trained coast guard. They also run state detention centers, where abuses of migrants are common.

As a result, militias — some of them led by warlords the U.N. has sanctioned for abuses — benefit from millions in funds the European Union gives to Libya to stop the migrant flow to Europe.

The European Commission spokesman reaffirmed all EU members had pledged to cooperate with the court.

“We respect the court’s impartiality and we are fully attached to international criminal justice to combat impunity," said EU commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni. In a 2023 summit, the EU leaders committed “to cooperate fully with the court, including rapid execution of any pending arrests,” he added.

Magdy reported from Cairo. Paolo Santalucia in Rome and Molly Quell in The Hague contributed.

FILE - View of the ICC, the International Criminal Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

FILE - View of the ICC, the International Criminal Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi makes his remarks during Justice Minister Carlo Nordio's appearance at the Senate for the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi makes his remarks during Justice Minister Carlo Nordio's appearance at the Senate for the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi makes his remarks during Justice Minister Carlo Nordio's appearance at the Senate for the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi makes his remarks during Justice Minister Carlo Nordio's appearance at the Senate for the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio addresses the Senate during the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio addresses the Senate during the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio puts his hand to his head during the presentation of the report on the justice administration, at the Senate, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio puts his hand to his head during the presentation of the report on the justice administration, at the Senate, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio addresses the Senate during the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio addresses the Senate during the report on the justice administration, in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

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