ATLANTA -- Matt Olson’s seventh-inning three-run homer sailed beyond the center-field fence to help the Braves sail ahead of Arizona for good Sunday at Truist Park, where Atlanta won, 5-3, and avoided getting swept for the second straight home series against the Diamondbacks.
Olson received the green light on a 3-0 count, blasting Brandyn Garcia’s 95.8 mph sinker into the tunnel behind the wall in center for his 36th home run and MLB-leading 66th extra-base hit.
With that blast, along with his 30 doubles, Olson tallied his third 30-30 season and second with Atlanta (44 doubles and 34 homers in 2022), joining Austin Riley (2021-23) and Ozzie Albies (2021, 2023) among 10 Braves to ever reach the feat more than once. Since Olson joined Atlanta ahead of the 2022 season, his 366 extra-base hits are most in the National League.
The Braves had been nursing a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh before Didier Fuentes came on in relief and allowed a game-tying blast from Ildemaro Vargas, the first batter he faced. But he received a quick boost from Olson, who put the Braves up again for good one half-inning later.