Matt Olson hit a go-ahead two-run homer and righty Grant Holmes tossed 6 2/3 strong innings as the Braves beat the Angels, 8-2, on Wednesday for a series-clinching win at Angel Stadium.
The Braves opened the scoring in the top of the first when Ronald Acuña Jr. led off with a bloop double to left field and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Ozzie Albies. They added a run in the second on an opposite-field double by catcher Jonah Heim.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Holmes surrendered a lead-off homer to Jorge Soler in the bottom of the second before allowing three walks and a single to the next four batters, culminating in a bases-loaded walk to Logan O'Hoppe to tie the game.
Atlanta retook the lead in the third on a two-run homer from Olson, his third long ball of the season. The Braves tacked on a fifth run later that inning when a two-out throwing error to first by Angels shortstop Zach Neto plated Austin Riley, who had doubled. Atlanta pulled away in the fifth on a two-run double from Mauricio Dubón and later scored an eighth run when Drake Baldwin collected his MLB-leading 15th RBI with a single in the sixth.
Holmes settled down after his shaky second inning, retiring 17 of his final 20 hitters for his longest outing of the season. The righty also notched a season-high six strikeouts.
The win concluded a span of 13 games in 13 days to open the season for the Braves (8-5) who have an off day at home Thursday before opening a three-game series Friday against the Guardians.