The Atlanta Braves unleashed an offensive explosion Thursday night in Phoenix, crushing the Arizona Diamondbacks 17-2 behind a four-homer barrage that included solo shots from Matt Olson, Dominic Smith and Mauricio Dubon.
While the long balls provided plenty of fireworks, it was an explosive eight-run fifth inning that transformed Atlanta’s season opener on the road into a complete blowout.
The scoring continued late as Jorge Mateo delivered a pinch-hit two-run blast in the ninth, while Olson and Mike Yastrzemski contributed RBI doubles during a five-run final frame that saw Arizona catcher James McCann take the mound to finish the lopsided contest.
Olson paced the Atlanta attack with three hits and three RBIs, while Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II each drove in two runs as the Braves captured their fifth victory in seven games to start the season.
Arizona’s bright spot came from Jordan Lawlar, who connected for his first major league home run, though it wasn’t enough to prevent the end of the Diamondbacks’ three-game winning streak. Ildemaro Vargas added an RBI double in the ninth inning.
On the mound, Reynaldo Lopez (1-0) earned the victory for Atlanta, surrendering just one run and four hits across five innings while striking out three and walking one batter.
Ryne Nelson (0-1) absorbed the loss for Arizona, giving up seven runs (only two earned) and three hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. He fanned three and issued three walks.
The game-changing fifth inning saw Atlanta manage just four hits but benefited tremendously from four walks and a crucial error by Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The rally began when Ozzie Albies successfully appealed a called third strike and drew a walk instead. After one out, Smith also walked, and Dubon followed with a hard grounder that Arenado mishandled, loading the bases.
Ronald Acuna Jr. then worked a walk that forced home Albies for a 3-1 Atlanta advantage. Drake Baldwin’s fielder’s choice brought home another run before Olson ripped a double to right field, extending the lead to 5-1 and ending Nelson’s outing.
Reliever Kevin Ginkel entered and immediately faced trouble as Riley lined a two-run double down the third-base line. After Yastrzemski drew a walk, Albies dropped a single into shallow left field to push the advantage to seven runs.
Harris capped the inning by driving a line drive the opposite way that struck high off the left-field wall for a two-run double, making the score 10-1.
Dubon opened the sixth inning by taking Joe Ross deep to left-center field for a solo homer. Yastrzemski added another run later in the frame with an RBI groundout, extending Atlanta’s lead to 12-1.
The Braves had struck early when Olson launched a two-out homer to center field in the first inning off Nelson, then Smith opened the third with a blast to right-center for a 2-0 lead.
Arizona managed to get on the scoreboard when Lawler led off the bottom of the third with his milestone homer to left-center off Lopez.
