<p>Mike Soroka surrendered a homer while working two innings for the Atlanta Braves in his 2021 debut Tuesday, a big step in the former All-Star’s comeback from a torn Achilles tendon.</p>
<p>Soroka got into the Braves’ final game of spring training at Fort Myers, Florida, taking over in the bottom of the sixth with Atlanta leading the Boston Red Sox 4-2. </p>
<p>The 23-year-old right-hander made it through his first inning of work without giving up a run. The Red Sox put two aboard with a hit and a walk, but Soroka <a href="https://twitter.com/i/status/1376975649034928133">recorded a pair of strikeouts, </a> including Chris Herrmann swinging to end the threat.</p>
<p>Jarren Duran led off the next inning by <a href="https://twitter.com/i/status/1376978273142472709">launching a towering drive over the right-field wall</a> to bring the Red Sox to 5-3. Soroka issued another walk and again had to deal with two runners aboard after Johan Camargo’s throwing error.</p>
<p>But Soroka closed out the seven-inning game by getting Jeter Downs to hit into a double play, earning a save.</p>
<p>“It felt good. It felt really good," Soroka said “It was kind of nice to got into trouble a little bit. I had to keep making pitches like I would during the season."</p>
<p>While Soroka had pitched in simulated games at the Braves’ spring training complex, this was his first appearance against an opposing team since his injury on Aug. 3, 2020.</p>
<p>Soroka will begin the season on the injured list and continue to build up his arm strength at the alternate-training site in suburban Atlanta. The team is hopeful that he may be ready to rejoin the rotation before the end of April. </p>
<p>“It was a perfect way to end a really good spring training on a positive note,” manager Brian Snitker said. </p>
<p>“You could tell he hasn’t pitched in a while. There were flashes that were really good. But it was just good to get him out there. To pitch against somebody else is important," he said.</p>
<p>Soroka was the Braves’ opening day starter a season ago, coming off a brilliant rookie season in which he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA, was selected for the All-Star Game and finished sixth in the NL Cy Young Award balloting.</p>
<p>But he lasted only three starts after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season finally got underway.</p>
<p>Pitching against the New York Mets, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-baseball-atlanta-braves-new-york-new-york-mets-4b94b67997242bfc481cde3599401e54">Soroka collapsed to the ground</a> after breaking toward first to cover the bag on a grounder to the right side. He let out a scream and knew right away that it was a devastating injury.</p>
<p>Soroka darted off the mound on a couple of plays Tuesday without any concern. He credited the work he’s done during his rehab for building up his confidence.</p>
<p>“Once you do it in a game, you’ve done it so many times already it is not a thought,” he said.</p>
<p>Without Soroka last season, Max Fried emerged as the Braves’ ace, Ian Anderson had a stellar rookie campaign, and the team won its third straight NL East title. </p>
<p>Even with a lack of depth in the rotation, Atlanta came within one win of reaching the World Series, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a seven-game NL Championship Series after squandering a 3-1 lead.</p>
<p>Soroka is eager to be part of a rotation that added veteran free agents Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly, who will join Fried and Anderson in a four-man group to start the season. Fried got the nod for Thursday’s opener at Philadelphia. </p>
<p>Bryse Anderson will likely join the team in a couple of weeks when a fifth starter is needed. But it shouldn’t be long before Soroka is part of the mix.</p>
<p>“It is exciting,” he said. “It could be one of those rotations where five guys are just trading hands, competing with each other. That’s where it’s the most fun.”</p>
<p>NOTES: After being scratched the day before because of tightness in his right calf, SS Dansby Swanson returned to the lineup. He will be ready to go on opening day.</p>
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