Braves recap: Riley homers twice as Braves take down the Phillies

Dylan Dodd struggled a bit on the mound, but the Atlanta Braves offense led by Austin Riley's two homer game answered the call on Thursday. Travis d'Arnaud broke a tie late in the game with a two-run single and the Braves would go on to win by the score of 8-5.

After Dylan Dodd, who was called up to start tonight, threw a scoreless first inning, the Braves' offense quickly got to work in the bottom half of the first against Aaron Nola. Matt Olson would single with one out and then Austin Riley, who has been looking significantly better of late, launched a cutter that caught way too much of the plate 459 feet for a two-run homer. That ball was absolutely annihilated and was also his eighth home run of the season.

Unfortunately, the Phillies would get those runs right back in the second inning on a two-run homer off the bat of Alec Bohm who did touch home plate this time. A couple batters later, the Phillies would take the lead on a RBI double from Bryson Stott and Dodd was officially not having a fun time out there.

Marcell Ozuna would tie the game with a solo shot in the bottom half of the second inning. The third inning saw both teams squander prime scoring chances. Dodd mercifully got a quick fourth inning in the books and the offense would capitalize on the opportunity in the home half. Michael Harris II, who is having a really rough season so far, drove in a run with a sac fly to give the Braves the lead again.

The Phillies would tie the game yet again in the fifth thanks to a solo homer from Bryce Harper, but Austin Riley would answer right back with his SECOND home run of the game to give the Braves the lead again. This one was one foot shorter than his first one.

Dylan Dodd's night was done after five innings with his final line ending at 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, and 3 K. Certainly not dominant, but not a disaster, either. After a scoreless inning from Kirby Yates, AJ Minter had yet another tough relief appearance. The Phillies would end up tying the game AGAIN, but they would have taken the lead if not for a nice relay throw home by Orlando Arcia and a review that overturned the safe call at home.

The Braves gave themselves a prime opportunity in the bottom of the eighth after a single from Ozzie Albies and a ground-rule double from Marcell Ozuna with one out. Orlando Arcia would walk thanks to some help from the umpire (who was all over the place). Snitker would then pinch-hit Travis d'Arnaud for Michael Harris II against the hard throwing lefty reliever. It would work out well as TdA would hit a two-run single to give the Braves a 7-5 lead.

Matt Olson would then add another insurance run on a sac fly to make it an 8-5 game and Raisel Iglesias was tasked with trying to close the game out. The top of the ninth went by without incident and the Braves put another win in the win column.