Braves return to first-inning form with early onslaught vs. Rays

ATLANTA -- For much of the season, the Braves’ offense has been quiet out of the gate. Coming into Friday's series opener against Tampa Bay, Atlanta had scored just 29 first-inning runs in 66 games -- tied for 18th in the Majors -- and had just snapped an eight-game stretch with a goose egg in the opening frame the day before.

That changed in a big way in the Braves' 7-3 win over the Rays at Truist Park. The first five batters hit safely and came around to score -- marking a season high in first-inning scoring for the club -- as Atlanta cruised to an easy win to open a six-game homestand.

This was a welcome, if not unexpected, development for the Braves. Just last season, they had one of the most prolific first-inning offenses in MLB history. Yes, Ronald Acuña Jr. is out for the season with a torn ACL, but the rest of the key hitters remain.

“It had that feel again as they started out the game and just [had] some good at-bats,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Austin [Riley] getting involved is huge for us. ... It's just good to see the guys keeping the line moving. It was really, really nice because we haven't seen that in a while.”

Coming into the game, the Braves were slashing just .242/.317/.389 in the first inning, similar to their overall line of .243/.309/.397 despite all of their top hitters batting atop the order. But on Friday, it was all quality contact.

New leadoff man Michael Harris II smoked a single to left field at 98.9 mph, per Statcast, but exited the game with left hamstring tightness after advancing to third on Ozzie Albies' double (99.3 mph). Both runners scored on Marcell Ozuna's National League-leading 19th home run (101.3 mph) before Matt Olson (89.8 mph) and Riley (108.4 mph) each doubled.

Riley came around to score two batters later when Adam Duvall reached on a throwing error by starter Zack Littell, extending the Braves’ lead to 5-1, which after the 6-3 win over the Orioles on Thursday, gave them consecutive games with five or more runs for the first time since April 19-20.

“I feel like that's kind of what we were doing a lot in 2023,” Riley said. “Building off of what we did yesterday to today, it’s obviously a positive to see. You just try to continue to do that.”

Riley was the star of the game offensively as he added a two-run homer in the second inning -- making it the Braves’ highest scoring output through two innings since they scored seven in the first against the Phillies on May 28, 2023 -- and a single in the fourth, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.

That was all the more important considering his recent struggles. In 16 games since returning from a left side injury in late May, Riley was hitting just .161/.212/.194, including picking up just one hit in his 19 at-bats leading into Friday's win.

“We’ve been waiting for him. He's been waiting for it also,” Snitker said. “It was big, and it's not because he hadn't been working. I mean, he's been working his tail off, and then we know what he's capable of. He's been through it before.”

Building that early lead enabled starter Chris Sale to, well, sail after he gave up a run in the first inning. He was able to settle in and attack hitters as he earned his 11th win against the Rays -- breaking a tie with Justin Verlander for the most among active pitchers vs. Tampa Bay -- as he struck out seven and allowed two runs across seven innings.

“For [the offense] to go out there and do that, as a starting pitcher, it gives me confidence to go out there and throw strikes,” Sale said. “It takes a little of the edge off. The trust has always been there with these guys. I appreciate the work that they put in to get back to where they want to be.”