The Atlanta Braves are on a roll, and Austin Riley is leading the charge. The young third baseman continued his torrid streak, belting two home runs to power the Braves past the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 on a thrilling evening at SunTrust Park. The victory marked the Braves' fifth consecutive win, and Riley's impressive display at the plate has been a key factor in their success.
Riley's first blast came in the bottom of the second inning, a solo shot off Blue Jays starter Trent Thornton that gave the Braves an early 1-0 lead. The 22-year-old slugger wasn't done yet, as he launched another bomb in the fifth inning, this time a two-run shot that extended the Braves' advantage to 5-2. The crowd of over 30,000 was electric, cheering on Riley as he rounded the bases, his helmet held high in triumph.
Braves manager Brian Snitker praised Riley's performance, saying, "Austin's been swinging the bat really well lately. He's got a lot of power, and when he gets his pitch, he's not missing it." Riley's two-homer night marked his third multi-homer game of the season, and he's now homered in five of his last seven games.
The Braves' offense was clicking on all cylinders, with Riley and Ronald Acuña Jr. leading the charge. Acuña Jr. added a solo homer of his own in the seventh inning, his 28th of the season, to put the game out of reach for the Blue Jays.
On the mound, Braves starter Luke Jackson earned the win, tossing 5 1/3 innings of solid baseball. The Braves' bullpen was also impressive, with Shane Carle and A.J. Minter combining for 2 2/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm at the plate. Despite a two-run homer from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the team was unable to overcome the Braves' potent offense. The loss dropped the Blue Jays to 2-5 on their current road trip, and they'll look to bounce back against the Braves in the series finale on Thursday.
As for the Braves, they'll look to keep their winning streak alive behind Riley's hot bat. With a crucial series against the Washington Nationals looming, the Braves will need all the offense they can get. One thing is certain, however: Austin Riley is on a mission, and the Braves are reaping the benefits.
Key Takeaways:
Austin Riley hit two home runs to lead the Braves past the Blue Jays 8-4.
The Braves have won five consecutive games, with Riley's hot bat playing a key role.
Ronald Acuña Jr. added a solo homer, his 28th of the season.
The Braves' bullpen was impressive, with Shane Carle and A.J. Minter combining for 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
With the win, the Braves improved to 60-40 on the season, solidifying their position atop the NL East standings. As the season heats up, one thing is clear: the Braves are a force to be reckoned with, and Austin Riley is leading the charge.
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