PHOENIX – – Austin Riley was hitting baseballs all around Chase Field on Monday night. Adam Duvall hit one so hard he left the court from a long way off.
The Atlanta Braves have known the ups and downs of a playoff race for weeks now. It’s safe to say it was definitely one of the good days.
Riley had three doubles and three RBIs, Duvall added a two-run homerun to 483 feet and the Braves extended their lead in the NL East by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-4.
“It was good to have an attacking game,” said manager Brian Snitker. “We were waiting for that. It’s good to see the guys kick the ball a little bit.
The Braves extended their advantage to three games over the Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 2-0 to Baltimore. Atlanta had lost four straight games before beating the Giants on Sunday.
“You’re going to go through some ruts. You can’t look forward, you have to stay in the moment, ”said Riley. “We have a very good team and I believe in us.”
The two worst majors teams this season currently have a big effect on the NL East race. The Orioles and Diamondbacks have both lost 102 games.
The Diamondbacks were leading 3-2 before fifth, but the Braves responded with a huge inning, scoring seven runs while sending 12 batters home.
Jorge Soler and Freddie Freeman started the rally with back-to-back doubles, Riley added his third double of the night and Duvall smashed a 483-foot home run down center-left, which was his 37th long ball of the season and 150th in his career. The Braves also took advantage of two Arizona mistakes.
“We just didn’t attack the zone, we didn’t pick up the baseball. It was a very sloppy fifth round, ”Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
Atlanta finished with seven doubles.
Riley continued a breakout season, pushing his batting average above 0.300 with three hits. The 24-year-old third baseman has been a mainstay in the Atlanta midfield, contributing 30 doubles and 29 homers.
Duvall has also added a lot of oomph since joining the Braves in a midseason trade with the Marlins. His 37 home runs are a career high, and 15 of them have come with Atlanta in just 163 at-bat.
Riley was on second base when Duvall hit his rocket in the left center stands. Riley never even bothered to turn around and see where he ended up.
“This ball tonight was hit a long, long way away,” he said.
Huascar Ynoa started on the mound for the Braves, allowing three runs in four innings. Jacob Webb (5-3) threw a scoreless relief round. Eddie Rosario added a solo circuit.
Humberto Mejia (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing six runs in four innings. Ketel Marte had three doubles and one RBI. Jake McCarthy hit his first big-league home run in the seventh.
The Diamondbacks continued a miserable season that is among the worst in franchise history. The team’s single-season loss record is 111, set in 2004. Arizona must win at least four of its last 12 games to avoid matching or breaking that mark.
Lovullo said it was difficult to watch his team struggle to perform in critical moments.
“I’m dying inside,” Lovullo said.
PITCHER IN A PINCH
The Braves used pitcher Max Fried as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning. He coaxed a seven-length walk to Taylor Widener.
Fried has been a great hitter this season, especially for a pitcher, with .306 with three doubles in 49 at-bat. It was his fourth appearance as a pinch hitter in 2021.
MAKE MOVEMENTS
The Diamondbacks called up Triple-A Reno’s Mejía so he could start. To make room on the roster, they proposed RHP Brandyn Sittinger to Reno after Sunday’s game.
FOLLOWING
The Diamondbacks send RHP Luke Weaver (3-5, 4.42 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. Snitker said RHP Jesse Chavez (3-2, 2.67) will open a box game for the Braves.
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