Riley’s Historic Night
The Braves walked out of Arlington with an 8‑5 win on Sunday, completing a three‑game sweep that lifted their season series record to 21 wins. The victory marked the second straight series triumph for Atlanta, underscoring their early‑season dominance.
Austin Riley was the centerpiece of the offense, delivering a career‑high five hits that included a pair of home runs. His performance made him the first Braves catcher to launch two homers in a single game since 2004, a milestone that added a historic footnote to the night.
Drake Baldwin complemented Riley’s heroics with two homers of his own, while the Braves capitalized on a seventh‑inning rally. A two‑run single in that frame pushed the lead to four, allowing the team to ride a 4‑0 advantage into the later innings.
On the mound, Nathan Eovaldi surrendered four runs over four innings, a outing that saw him give up 22 homers already this season. Grant Holmes, meanwhile, limited Texas to three runs across five frames, preserving the early lead.
The Rangers managed a late surge, with Wyatt Langford delivering three hits and a ninth‑inning homer that narrowed the gap, but the Braves’ bullpen held firm. Looking ahead, Bryce Elder is slated to start for Atlanta against San Diego, while Jacob deGrom will return to the Rangers’ rotation for their home opener against the Chicago White Sox.
Riley’s hot streak also carried into the All‑Star break, where he entered with a .207 average and nine homers, a marked improvement from earlier in the season.