The Atlanta Braves have not had the best time the last two games against the Dodgers. They lost a tight, low scoring game on Friday and then had to wait around for hours yesterday for the rain to pass only to get blown out. Just like that, LA was looking to complete the sweep in the Braves' house, but Austin Riley had other plans.
Having Bryce Elder on the mound isn't the best feeling against the vaunted Dodgers' lineup, but he started the game strong with striking out the side. After a leadoff walk to Alex Verdugo, in stepped Riley to face Dustin May and it was just the beginning of the damage he was set to do.
Good evening, everyone!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/mSvrUHid1m
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 4, 2025
Austin Riley is powering the Braves singlehandedly against the Dodgers right now
A word to the wise: you don't want to hang a slider/sweeper to Riley. Riley was not fooled in the slightest and connected for a tw0-run homer that left his bat at 108.5 mph and traveled 426 feet. Atlanta went quietly for the rest of the first inning, but the damage was done.
After another breezy couple of innings from Elder (yes, we are in the Twilight Zone in case you are wondering), Verdugo again reached base on a single this time. Riley stepped into the batter's box again, May hung another sweeper, and Riley again punished the mistake with a 416 foot bomb to center to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.
It'd been about 30 minutes since Austin's last dinger so he was due tbh#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/56YdioEdhq
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 4, 2025
We are only in the bottom of the third inning as of the writing of this article, so there is a lot of baseball left. However, the Braves are well on their way towards averting what would be a disastrous sweep at the hands of a hated rival. If you are wondering who to thank, Riley is the clear choice with an honorable mention to Elder who is defying all logic with what he is doing right now