Austin Riley played a pivotal role in the Atlanta Braves’ dramatic comeback victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, securing three hits, including a crucial go-ahead single in the eighth inning. Despite facing a daunting 6-0 deficit in the first inning and trailing 8-2 in the fifth, the Braves showcased resilience by gradually narrowing the gap. They scored three runs in the fifth inning, followed by two more in the seventh and eighth innings each. Ronald Acuna Jr.’s RBI single leveled the score, paving the way for Riley’s decisive hit that granted the Braves their first lead of the game.
Similar to their previous game on Friday, where they mounted a late rally to secure a win in extra innings, the Braves demonstrated their ability to thrive under pressure.
A.J. Minter claimed the victory as the pitcher of record, with Raisel Iglesias shutting down the Diamondbacks in the ninth inning to secure his first save. The loss was attributed to Luis Frias.
Max Fried, the Braves’ starter, endured a challenging outing, conceding eight runs, seven of which were earned, over 4 1/3 innings. Brandon Pfaadt, pitching for Arizona, lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs.
Ketel Marte’s impressive performance included two extra-base hits in the first inning, with a leadoff homer marking the second consecutive night he achieved this feat. His double further bolstered the Diamondbacks’ early six-run advantage.
Despite the Braves managing to narrow the deficit to 6-2 in the fourth inning through Marcell Ozuna’s double and Michael Harris II’s triple, Pfaadt’s strikeouts prevented further damage.
However, the Diamondbacks extended their lead to 8-2 in the fifth inning before Ozuna’s three-run homer in the bottom half sparked the Braves’ resurgence.
In the subsequent innings, Atlanta continued to chip away at the Diamondbacks’ lead, with run-scoring singles from Matt Olson and Harris in the seventh inning reducing the deficit to 8-7.
