Harris' 2-run homer in the ninth lifts Braves over Rays 5-4 for their first road win

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Michael Harris II hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 5-4 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday for their first road win of the season.

Sean Murphy homered twice — a solo shot in the seventh and then back-to-back with Ozzie Albies in the eighth — as the Braves snapped a franchise record-tying 0-8 start away from home. They matched the 1980 Braves for the longest road losing streak to open a season.

Harris’ blast, his second of the season, off Cole Sulser (0-1) was the Braves' fourth home run in the final three innings after they trailed 2-0 and then 3-1. Atlanta was 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position until Harris drove in Nick Allen, who hit a leadoff double, with the go-ahead homer.

Jonathan Aranda homered off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias with two outs in the ninth before Christopher Morel flied out to end the game. Dylan Lee (1-1) pitched the eighth for the win.

The loss spoiled a strong start from Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who allowed four hits and struck out seven over five scoreless innings.

Junior Caminero homered off Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver in the first. Smith-Shawver issued a bases-loaded walk in the third and allowed a two-out RBI single to Aranda in the seventh.

Rays center fielder Kameron Misner made a tremendous diving attempt on Allen’s leadoff flyball at the wall, but dropped it to set up the Braves’ ninth-inning rally.

Jose Caballero ran into three costly outs on the bases for the Rays. He was caught stealing twice, including trying to take third base in the eighth, and he was also picked off.

The Braves will send veteran LHP Chris Sale (0–1, 6.75 ERA) to the mound against Rays RHP Shane Baz (1–0, 1.38 ERA) in the series finale Sunday.

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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cole Sulser throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero rounds the bases after his home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies rounds the bases after his home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) and catcher Sean Murphy, right, celebrate after their win over the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Atlanta Braves' Sean Murphy rounds the bases after his home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II celebrates after his two-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An independent expert will review security at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence after investigators accused a man of scaling a wall and setting fire to the mansion, state police said Wednesday.

State police said the review will be a risk and vulnerability assessment of the governor’s official residence following the arson attack, which caused extensive damage and forced Shapiro and his family to flee.

Authorities allege Cody Balmer scaled an iron security fence, eluded police and set the residence ablaze early Sunday morning. Investigators were combing his background to try to determine any motive for the attack, including whether it had anything to do with the Democrat's politics or Jewish faith.

In court on Monday, Cody Balmer denied having any mental illness and described himself as an unemployed welder with no income or savings. A judge denied bail and ordered him held on charges including attempted homicide, terrorism and arson. He did not enter a plea.

Balmer told police he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him after breaking into the building, according to court documents filed in this latest case of violence against political figures in the U.S.

Balmer, 38, had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but didn’t believe the assessment, his brother, Dan Balmer, told The Associated Press. He said he twice helped Cody get treatment at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute.

Dan Balmer said his brother had displayed concerning behavior, including the night before the fire, when he flipped over a table at the home where Cody Balmer lived with their parents.

Balmer appeared to have carefully planned the attack and was inside the residence for about a minute before escaping, police said. Authorities allege that after scaling a nearly 7-foot-high (2-meter-high) security fence, he broke two windows and set a room on fire using Molotov cocktails made from beer bottles filled with gasoline.

The fire caused significant damage and forced Shapiro, his family and guests, including other relatives, to evacuate the building early Sunday. The residence, built in 1968, did not have sprinklers, and the damage could be in the millions of dollars, Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said.

Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover on Saturday night in the same room. They were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Firefighters extinguished the fire and no one was injured.

Balmer said he had walked for an hour to reach the governor’s residence, and during a police interview “admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro,” according to a police affidavit that did not expand on that point.

Balmer turned himself in at state police headquarters after confessing to his former partner and asking her to call police, the affidavit said.

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Contributors include Associated Press reporter John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio.

This image provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (Commonwealth Media Services via AP)

This image provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (Commonwealth Media Services via AP)

This image provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (Commonwealth Media Services via AP)

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pauses during a news conference at the governor's official residence discussing the alleged arson that forced him, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)