Matt Olson’s tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning was the difference as the Atlanta Braves defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Sunday to salvage the finale of their three-game series.
The Diamondbacks won the season series 4-3.
With the game tied 2-2, Austin Riley doubled and Drake Baldwin walked to set the table. With two outs, Olson crushed a 3-0 sinker from reliever Brandyn Garcia 437 feet to straightaway center. It was Olson’s 36th home run and MLB-leading 66th extra-base hit.
Didier Fuentes (5-1) was the winning pitcher and Taylor Carke (2-3) took the loss. Raisel Iglesias worked the ninth and allowed a run, but earned his 25th save.
Neither starter figured in the decision. Atlanta’s Bryce Elder pitched six innings and allowed one run on four hits and one walk, striking out five. Arizona’s Michael Soroka went 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
The Braves generated the game’s first run the old-fashioned way in the third. Dominic Smith singled, advanced on a single from Jim Jarvis and scored on Baldwin’s single. The Braves had runners at second and third, but failed to score when Ronald Acuna Jr. and Olson struck out.
The Diamondbacks tied the game in the fourth when Gabriel Moreno led off with a line-drive homer that sailed into the left field seats. It was his ninth homer and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
A good defensive play by Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies saved a run in the fifth. With runners at second and third, Geraldo Perdomo grounded to second, but Albies was able to get his throw to the plate in time to nip Tim Tawa and squelch the threat.
The Braves pushed across another run in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. Riley singled and scored on Acuna’s two-out double to left field.
Arizona tied the game on Ildemaro Vargas’ homer, his ninth, to start the seventh off Fuentes. Vargas, who also homered on Saturday, entered the game in the fourth when Nolan Arenado left due to left trunk discomfort.
