Baldwin, Riley Power Braves Past Rangers 8-5

Baldwin and Riley Lead Offense

Evan Baldwin and Austin Riley provided the offensive firepower for the Atlanta Braves, combining for five hits and three home runs in Sunday’s contest against the Texas Rangers. Baldwin delivered a career-high five hits, including two home runs, while Riley added two long balls of his own. The Braves secured an 8-5 victory at Truist Park, improving their record to 57-41.

The Rangers fell to 50-49 on the season.

Scoring Breakdown

Atlanta established an early lead in the first inning when Harris II hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Baldwin to score. The Braves extended their advantage in the second inning when Riley homered to left field, measuring 416 feet. In the third, Baldwin added another home run to right center, traveling 395 feet, to make it 3-0.

Riley continued his dominance in the fourth inning with a home run to center field, 413 feet away, pushing the score to 4-0. The Rangers began to chip away in the fifth inning. Langford doubled to left, allowing Lopez to score.

Jung followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Pederson. Burger then singled to left, bringing Langford home to make it 4-3. However, Atlanta responded in the seventh inning.

Riley singled to center, driving in Dubón and Olson, making it 6-3. Hicklen doubled to center, scoring White, before Riley was thrown out at home. The score stood at 7-3 after that frame.

The Rangers scored in the eighth inning when Higashioka doubled to right, allowing Cauley to reach. But Baldwin ended any remaining hope with a home run to center field, 392 feet, in the same inning. Langford added a solo home run to left field, 422 feet, in the ninth inning, finalizing the 8-5 score.

Pitching Performance

Grant Holmes earned the win for Atlanta, pitching five innings and allowing three earned runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He was supported by Dylan Dodd, who pitched 0.2 innings with two strikeouts, and Didier Fuentes, who pitched 1.1 innings with no hits or runs allowed.

Raisel Iglesias closed the game with one inning pitched, allowing one earned run on one hit.

Nathan Eovaldi took the loss for Texas, pitching four innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Robby Ahlstrom, Cole Winn, and Ben Peoples each pitched one inning without allowing an earned run. Tyler Alexander and Peyton Gray contributed fractional innings, with Alexander allowing two earned runs and Gray allowing one.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816176