Riley homers again, Braves beat Cardinals for 4-1 start

 Austin Riley hit a two-run homer and Dylan Dodd pitched five strong innings in his major league debut, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1. 

Dodd allowed one run and six hits. The left-hander struck out three and walked none, throwing 52 of his 73 pitches for strikes in the Braves' fourth win against just one loss.

 Jesse Chavez, Joe Jiménez, Dylan Lee and Kirby Yates combined for three scoreless innings before A.J. Minter worked a perfect ninth for his first save of the season. 

St. Louis got its only run on Willson Contreras’ RBI single in the fourth.


PHOTO - Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley hits a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)