Riley, Holmes lead Braves to another series win with an 8-1 rout of the Red Sox

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Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley hits a three-run homer against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley celebrates his three-run homer against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) — Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley hits a three-run homer against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

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1:47 PM on Sunday, May 17

By PAUL NEWBERRY

ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley hit a three-run homer, Grant Holmes pitched six scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves routed the Boston Red Sox 8-1 Sunday to win another series.

The first-place Braves took two of three from Boston for their 13th win in 15 series this season. They have only one series loss, along with the split of a four-game set.

Mike Yastrzemski also homered for Atlanta, which jumped ahead 5-0 through two innings against Brayan Bello (2-5) on his 27th birthday.

Riley got the Braves rolling with his seventh homer of the season, a 431-foot shot with two outs in the first. Michael Harris II kept the inning alive by hustling to first to beat the relay throw on a potential inning-ending double play.

Yastrzemski kept up his hot hitting with a leadoff homer in the fourth. Riley doubled in the fifth and came home on Dominic Smith's single to make it 7-0.

Holmes (3-1) allowed five hits and walked one in an 87-pitch effort. Reynaldo López added two scoreless innings before Tyler Kinley gave up Boston's lone run with two outs in the ninth.

It was another rough start for Bello, who had pitched well in his past two appearances coming out of the bullpen after an opener. He has now allowed 33 earned runs in 30 1-3 innings as a starter.

Ozzie Albies snapped an 0-for-24 hitless streak — the second longest of his career.

A sudden downpour struck in the top of the sixth, but the tarp was barely on the infield before the storm passed. The game resumed after a delay of 33 minutes, though Boston catcher Carlos Narváez was lifted because of finger pain.

Up next

Red Sox: Boston continues its road trip Monday night with the start of a three-game series at Kansas City. RH Sonny Gray (4-1, 3.18 ERA) goes for the Red Sox against Royals RH Seth Lugo (1-3, 3.76).

Braves: RH JR Ritchie (1-0, 3.32) takes the mound in Miami for the opener of a four-game series Monday night. The Marlins will counter with RH Max Meyer (3-0, 3.21).

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