Matt Olson, Dominic Smith and Mauricio Dubon all hit solo homers and the Atlanta Braves hit four overall while cruising to a 17-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night in Phoenix.
None of the homers came in an eight-run fifth inning that allowed Atlanta to turn its first road game into a blowout. Jorge Mateo ripped a pinch-hit, two-run homer and Olson and Mike Yastrzemski added RBI doubles in a five-run ninth when Arizona catcher James McCann was finishing out the contest on the mound.
Olson had three hits and three RBIs and Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II had two RBIs apiece as the Braves won for the fifth time in their first seven games. Jordan Lawlar smacked his first career homer for Arizona, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Ildemaro Vargas had an RBI double in the ninth.
Reynaldo Lopez (1-0) gave up one run and four hits over five innings for Atlanta. He struck out three and walked one. Arizona starter Ryne Nelson (0-1) allowed seven runs (two earned) and three hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.
Giants 7, Mets 2
Six players had an RBI apiece Thursday night for host San Francisco, which rolled past New York in the opener of a four-game series.
Luis Arraez delivered a game-tying RBI triple in the first and Matt Chapman followed two pitches later with the go-ahead run-scoring double for the Giants. Bo Bichette had an RBI double in the first and Mark Vientos homered in the second for the Mets, who have lost three straight. Robbie Ray (1-1) earned the win by allowing two runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Mets starter David Peterson (0-1) gave up six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out five over 4 1/3 innings. The nine hits allowed tied a career high for Peterson.
Twins 5, Royals 1
Taj Bradley threw six scoreless innings and visiting Minnesota belted three home runs in a victory over Kansas City.
Bradley (1-0) surrendered just five hits, striking out three and walking one for Minnesota, which salvaged the three-game series after dropping the first two. Matt Wallner, Kody Clemens and Josh Bell each homered in the ninth inning for the Twins, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Cole Ragans (0-2) suffered the loss despite not allowing an earned run. Ragans gave up four hits, striking out eight and walking one. Kansas City had its three-game winning streak halted.
--Field Level Media
