Albies and Olson hit back-to-back homers in 9th to give Braves 2-0 win over Diamondbacks

PHOENIX (AP) — Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson opened the ninth inning with back-to-back home runs, sending the Atlanta Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.

Grant Holmes held the Diamondbacks to one hit through six innings, matching zeros with Arizona starter Eduardo Rodríguez.

Albies and Olson connected off reliever Paul Sewald (0-1), helping the Braves improve to 6-2 while the Diamondbacks dropped to 3-5. Arizona has scored only three runs in its last three games.

Robert Suarez (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth inning and Raisel Iglesias worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save this season.

Albies, who had three of Atlanta's six hits, drove an 0-1 pitch from Sewald over the right-field fence for his second homer of the year.

Olson sent Sewald’s next delivery to left for his second home run as well.

In the early innings, both starters were in command. Holmes didn't give up a hit until Ketel Marte singled on a sharp line drive to left with one out in the sixth. The right-hander walked three and struck out four.

In his only two previous starts against the Diamondbacks, both last year, Holmes allowed nine runs in nine innings.

Rodríguez tossed seven strong innings of his own, scattering four hits while walking one and striking out three. It's the first time the left-hander has opened a season with consecutive scoreless starts.

The third game of the four-game series is Saturday, with Braves RHP Bryce Elder (1-0) facing Michael Soroka (1-0).

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (66) pitches during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Paul Sewald (38) is relieved from pitching after allowing two home runs during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braces, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) celebrates a home run by Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Lawrence Butler hit a three-run homer and an RBI single, Max Muncy followed Butler's fourth-inning drive with a solo shot after his earlier two-run double, and the Athletics pounded the Houston Astros 11-4 on Friday night for a victorious home opener.

The A's added a run in their decisive six-run fourth on Tyler Soderstrom's shallow popup that catcher Yainer Diaz couldn't corral some 10 feet up the first-base line as three other players converged. Jacob Wilson singled home a run two batters later before Butler and Muncy connected back-to-back. Soderstrom also doubled in a run for the A’s, who went 36-45 at home last season.

They scored 17 runs in their initial six games before breaking out Friday — all with two outs.

Houston (5-3) was coming off a sweep of the Red Sox and had won five straight since dropping its initial two games but fell behind early to the inspired A's in their first game at Sutter Health Park, where they started playing last year and plan to stay through next season before a move to Las Vegas in 2028.

Astros starter Cristian Javier (0-1) reached 600 career strikeouts when he fanned Butler in the second. The right-hander then surrendered three straight singles — with Denzel Clarke driving in the first run — and was done after 3 2/3 innings.

Diaz singled to start the third against Jeffrey Springs (1-0) then Jeremy Peña's one-out double set up a tying sacrifice fly by Yordan Álvarez. Springs beat Houston in his last start back in September.

Jose Altuve then appeared to draw a walk but catcher Shea Langeliers challenged and the automated ball-strike system review showed the pitch barely caught the bottom corner of the plate and was overturned to a called third strike — ending the inning.

RHP Tatsuya Imai (0-0, 13.50 ERA) pitches the middle game Saturday opposite A's RHP Luis Morales (0-1, 10.38).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

The national anthem is sung before a home-opener baseball game between the Athletics and the Houston Astros, Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs throws to the Houston Astros during the first inning of a home-opener baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics' Max Muncy, center, celebrates after scoring during the first inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 3, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)