The Atlanta Braves ended the Los Angeles Dodgers’ seven-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory on Sunday night at Truist Park, powered by two home runs from third baseman Austin Riley. The win allowed the Braves to avoid a season sweep and regain momentum after a string of losses to Los Angeles dating back to the 2023 season.
According to pregame betting lines, the Dodgers entered the matchup as slight -120 favorites, with the Braves listed at even money. The total for the game was set at 8.5 runs. Despite the odds, Atlanta struck first and managed to hold the lead throughout a tense, closely contested game.
Riley wasted no time making an impact, launching a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning after Dodgers starter Dustin May issued a leadoff walk to Alex Verdugo. Riley’s blast traveled an estimated 426 feet to left field, giving the Braves a quick 2-0 advantage. In his next at-bat in the third inning, Riley connected again, this time for his eighth home run of the season, extending Atlanta’s lead to 4-0.
May, who dropped to 1-2 on the season, struggled early but settled in as the game progressed. He was ultimately tagged for all four Braves runs, with both home runs coming off Riley’s bat. May allowed six hits and walked one while striking out three over five innings.
Atlanta starter Bryce Elder earned his second win of the season, improving to 2-1. The right-hander delivered a solid outing, pitching five-plus innings and giving up two runs on four hits while striking out six. Elder exited in the sixth inning after allowing two baserunners with no outs, and right-hander Pierce Johnson entered in relief.
Johnson successfully navigated the jam, retiring three straight batters. One of those outs came on a ground ball by Max Muncy that scored a run for Los Angeles, trimming the Braves’ lead to 4-2.
The Dodgers continued to apply pressure in the later innings. In the seventh, Miguel Rojas came off the bench and delivered a pinch-hit solo home run off Braves reliever Dylan Lee, bringing the Dodgers within one run. However, that would be as close as Los Angeles would come.
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias entered in the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He allowed Andy Pages to start the frame with an infield single. Pages was replaced by pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim, who advanced to second on a steal and moved to third on a strikeout of Will Smith. Iglesias then struck out Rojas and Austin Barnes in succession, securing his fifth save of the season and preserving the win for Atlanta.
The victory was significant for the Braves, who had lost all five previous games against the Dodgers this season, including the first two contests of the current series. It also ended a seven-game losing streak against Los Angeles that dated back to the previous year.
Offensively, the Dodgers were led by Rojas and Muncy, who drove in one run apiece. Playing left field, Michael Conforto made a diving catch to rob Drake Baldwin of a hit in the second inning, but he remained mired in a deep slump. Conforto went hitless in two at-bats, extending his drought to 28 consecutive at-bats without a hit and dropping his batting average to .141.
The Dodgers now focus on a 10-game road trip, continuing with a three-game series in Miami starting Monday night. Meanwhile, the Braves will begin a four-game home set against the Cincinnati Reds. Atlanta is scheduled to start right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, who brings a 1-2 record and a 4.26 ERA into the series opener. The Reds will counter with Brady Singer, who enters with a 4-1 record and a 3.24 ERA.
The win offers the Braves a chance to reset after recent struggles against a National League rival, while the Dodgers will look to regroup and regain their winning form in Miami.
