Field Level Media
18 Apr 2026, 07:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Martin Perez tossed six scoreless innings and Austin Riley hit a pair of opposite-field home runs as the visiting Atlanta Braves smashed the Philadelphia Phillies 9-0 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
After getting designated for assignment and re-signed by Atlanta earlier in the week, Perez (1-1) allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out four. Jose Suarez logged the final three innings for the save, helping the Braves improve to 7-2 in their last nine.
The Phillies, meanwhile, have dropped seven of nine. They managed only six hits in this one, including three by Bryce Harper and two by J.T. Realmuto. Starter Taijuan Walker (1-3) was charged with seven runs and seven hits in four frames.
Atlanta's first three batters of the game reached against Walker, who eventually allowed two runs in the inning capped by Mike Yastrzemski's run-scoring infield single.
Philadelphia threatened in the bottom half, but Perez retired Edmundo Sosa and Realmuto with the bases loaded to escape the jam.
The Braves' offense put together another rally in the second inning as Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuna singled with one out. Walker recovered to strike out Drake Baldwin, but Matt Olson delivered an RBI single and Riley followed with a three-run shot over the right-field wall to make it 6-0.
Dominic Smith's homer in the third increased the lead to 7-0.
Harper tripled with one out in the third, but the Phillies could not bring him around. Perez had no major issues in the fourth, fifth or sixth before handing it off to the bullpen.
Suarez allowed a one-out walk to Trea Turner in the seventh, but he retired the next two hitters. He logged another strong inning in the eighth, giving up a two-out single to Realmuto before setting down Alec Bohm on a popout.
Harris' homer in the eighth and Riley's blast in the ninth -- the third of the season for both -- extended the margin to 9-0.
Suarez took care of the ninth to complete his third career save and the Braves' fourth shutout in 20 games.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Wisconsin Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Wisconsin Star.
More InformationANNANDALE, Virginia: Virginia's former lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax, once seen as a rising Democratic leader before sexual assault...
ROME, Italy: The scope of a year-old law passed by Giorgia Meloni's government limiting citizenship claims to Italian descendants who...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump said there would be a 10-day pause in fighting between Israel and Lebanon starting at...
GAZA CITY, GAZA—Three-year-old Yahya Al-Malahi lay on a metal table in the morgue of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Family members...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The International Protection Bill, which introduces new asylum rules to speed up decisions and improve support for...
MEXICO CITY, Mexico: The United States this week placed sanctions on a well-known human rights activist in Mexico, accusing him of...
(Photo credit: David Richard-Imagn Images) Jeremiah Jackson hit a three-run homer off Connor Brogdon as part of a six-run eighth...
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images) Martin Perez tossed six scoreless innings and Austin Riley hit a pair of opposite-field...
(Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) For the first time in eight seasons and the eighth time overall, the Pittsburgh Penguins...
(Photo credit: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Four weeks after helping Nebraska edge Vanderbilt...
(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images) The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks each were Cinderella stories the last time they opposed...
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images) A pair of NBA legends will square off once more when the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston...
