PHOENIX — Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson propelled the Atlanta Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, connecting with back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning.
The Braves now hold a 6-2 record, while the Diamondbacks fell to 3-5.
Ninth-Inning Power Surge
Albies and Olson both homered off reliever Paul Sewald (0-1). Albies drove an 0-1 pitch over the right-field fence for his second homer of the year.
Olson followed up by sending Sewald’s next delivery to left for his second home run as well.
Holmes and Rodríguez Duel
Grant Holmes held the Diamondbacks to one hit through six innings, matching zeros with Arizona starter Eduardo Rodríguez.
Holmes didn’t give up a hit until Ketel Marte singled on a sharp line drive to left with one out in the sixth. The right-hander walked three and struck out four.
Rodríguez tossed seven strong innings, scattering four hits while walking one and striking out three. It’s the first time the left-hander has opened a season with consecutive scoreless starts.
In his only two previous starts against the Diamondbacks, both last year, Holmes allowed nine runs in nine innings.
Bullpen Closes It Out
Robert Suarez (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth inning. Raisel Iglesias worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save this season.
Arizona has struggled to score, managing only three runs in its last three games.
The third game of the four-game series is Saturday, with Braves RHP Bryce Elder (1-0) facing Michael Soroka (1-0).