Braves third baseman Austin Riley finished one of the most prolific offensive months in franchise history with a game-winner. His walk-off double pushed the Braves past the Diamondbacks 1-0 Sunday. The Braves swept Arizona in a three-game series at Truist Park
Here are five takeaways from Sunday:
1. Riley’s double came off Mark Melancon, a former Braves closer, and scored first baseman Matt Olson, who singled with one out in the frame. Riley has two career walk-off hits, both coming this season (the other was July 10 against Washington).
It was Riley’s second double of the afternoon, giving him a franchise record 26 extra-base hits in July. Hall of Famer Hank Aaron previously held the franchise record for extra-base hits in a month. He had 25 in July 1961.
“That’s pretty special,” Riley said of passing Aaron. “The type of player he was, on and off the field, I’ll hold that (close) to me for a long time.”
Manager Brian Snitker on Riley’s record: “That’s pretty good company you’re keeping. Pretty stellar man you just passed there. It was kind of surreal. He’s hitting balls through the wall, over the wall. The at-bats are just incredible. He just keeps going.”
2. Riley’s overall July numbers: .423/.459/.885 (44-for-104) with 11 homers, 25 RBIs and 21 runs scored. From Sports Reference’s Greg Harvey: Riley is the seventh player since 1901 to hit .420 or better with 26 or more extra-base hits in a month. The other six are Richard Hidalgo (2000), Joe DiMaggio (1937), Chuck Klein (1930), Chick Hafey (1928), Babe Ruth (1924) and Tris Speaker (1923).
“It’s been incredible, fun to watch,” Snitker said. “How he plays the game, the consistency with which he does everything, it’s incredible. How professional he is, how he carries himself, how he respects the game. He checks all the boxes of being that guy. He’s a guy you want on the buses and vans, all that stuff, representing your organization.”
Riley also joined Chipper Jones as Braves in modern history to hit .400 with 10 homers in a single month. Jones achieved such in July 1999 – his MVP season.
3. Which begs the question: Can Riley join the shortlist of MVP winners in Braves history? He finished seventh in voting a season ago, and now he’s the most productive hitter on the defending champions.
“He has to be in the conversation, right?” starter Max Fried said. “What he’s been able to do, what he’s meant to this team. We’ve had a lot of guys play pretty well this year, but for him to put it together and have the month he’s had, he’s for sure in the conversation I’d say.”
4. While Riley’s July finish stole the show Sunday, Fried was excellent. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits, in a pitcher’s duel against Merrill Kelly. It was Fried’s best outing of the second half thus far. He lowered his ERA to 2.58.
5. The Braves went 18-8 in July. They were 21-6 in June. It’s the first time the Braves have had consecutive calendar months with single-digit losses since July and August 2004. Before their two-month tear, the Braves were 23-27 and 10-1/2 games behind the Mets. They’re 62-41, three games behind New York, as August begins.
Stat to know
1.344 (Riley had a 1.344 OPS in July.)
Quotable
“I guess. I try not to think about those things. I just try to come out every day and help the team win a ballgame.” – Riley when asked if he belongs in the MVP conversation
Up next
The Braves are off Monday and host the Phillies on Tuesday evening, around 80 minutes after the trade deadline. Spencer Strider (5-3, 2.91) will start for the Braves. The Phillies’ starter is listed as TBD.
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