Atlanta Braves vs Arizona Diamondbacks

Atlanta struck first in the third inning. Dominic Smith reached base, moved to third on a Jim Jarvis single, and scored on Drake Baldwin's RBI single to right field off Diamondbacks starter Michael Soroka, who was facing his former team for the first time.

Arizona answered immediately. Gabriel Moreno led off the fourth with his ninth home run of the season, a line-drive solo shot to left field off Braves starter Bryce Elder, tying the game at 1-1.

The Braves regained the lead in the fifth. Austin Riley singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on Ronald Acuña Jr.'s RBI double to left, making it 2-1 Atlanta.

Arizona tied it again in the seventh. Facing Braves reliever Didier Fuentes, Ildemaro Vargas led off with a solo homer to right field — his ninth of the year — knotting the score at 2-2.

The decisive moment came in the home half of the seventh. With Diamondbacks reliever Taylor Clarke on the mound, Drake Baldwin walked and Austin Riley singled. Brandyn Garcia replaced Clarke and faced Olson with two outs. Olson crushed a 1-0 pitch to centre field for a three-run homer, his 36th of the season, putting Atlanta ahead 5-2.

Arizona scraped across a run in the ninth off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias when Ketel Marte scored on a Tim Tawa groundout, but Iglesias shut the door from there, striking out James McCann to secure his 34th save of the season.

The top of the seventh — Vargas's leadoff homer off Fuentes tied the game, but the Braves answered immediately. Atlanta's ability to respond in the bottom half, with Olson's three-run blast against a Diamondbacks bullpen that had been solid all series, flipped the momentum permanently. Manager Brian Snitker went to Fuentes for the seventh and the rookie gave up the solo shot, but Atlanta's offence bailed him out before he could take the loss.

Matt Olson (ATL): 1-for-3, HR (36), 3 RBI, BB, SB. The go-ahead three-run homer delivered the decisive blow and he added a walk and a stolen base.

Michael Soroka (ARI): 5.2 IP, 5 K, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB. The former Brave received a warm reception in his return to Truist Park and pitched efficiently, striking out five, but took a no-decision after being lifted with a 2-1 deficit in the sixth.

Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL): 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB. His run-scoring double in the fifth put Atlanta ahead and set up Olson's later heroics.

Raisel Iglesias (ATL): 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 H, 1 K, SV (34). Worked around a leadoff walk and a groundout that scored a run, but locked down his 34th save.

Player of the Match: Matt Olson — his three-run homer was the single biggest swing of the game.

Atlanta out-hit Arizona 8-6 and both sides played error-free defence. The Braves' three-run seventh inning was the difference: Arizona's relievers Taylor Clarke (0.2 IP, 1 ER) and Brandyn Garcia (0.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 HR allowed) combined to allow Olson's blast. Soroka's quality start (5.2 IP, 5 K, 0 walks) kept Arizona in the game, but the Diamondbacks mustered only solo homers from Moreno and Vargas against Braves pitching. Bryce Elder scattered four hits over six innings, striking out four and walking none in a steady outing.

The Braves (74-50) avoided a three-game sweep after dropping the series opener 10-3 on Friday and a 2-0 loss on Saturday. Atlanta remains atop the NL East. The Diamondbacks (66-59) had won the first two games of the series but could not complete the sweep; they sit second in the NL West.

Next up: The Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, 17 August. The Diamondbacks travel to face the Miami Marlins on the same day.

Olson's three-run homer was the defining swing in a game that flipped back and forth until Atlanta's bullpen and bats aligned in the seventh. Soroka impressed against his old club but the Diamondbacks' bullpen could not match Atlanta's ability to finish.