Austin Riley may have just sparked the Atlanta Braves’ 2025 revival—and did it with a little history on the side.
After an 0-7 start that had fans chewing their hats and muttering things we can’t print, the Braves badly needed a moment. A spark. Something.
Enter Riley, the vocal vet who hasn’t exactly had the hottest bat to start the year—but Tuesday night in Philly, he showed up in a big way and let everyone know: he’s still that guy.
The First Break: When Hustle Meets a Lucky Bounce
Let’s talk about those doubles. The first? Honestly, it’s a gift. It looked like a routine fly-out to left center—until the Phillies’ outfield pulled a “who’s-got-it?” special that landed the ball in no-man’s land.
Call it luck, call it baseball karma, but Riley was on second before the Phillies could even process what just happened.
And boy did that moment matter. Because Zack Wheeler, one of the game’s better arms, couldn’t shake it. He walked Jarred Kelenic, and then Sean Murphy stepped up and crushed a three-run shot.
That’s a five-run inning, all made possible because Riley kept the bat moving, and the baseball gods smiled.
The Real Statement: Riley’s Power Alley Delivers Again
But the second double? No luck involved there. Tie game in the seventh. Riley digs in and rips one into the right-center gap like he’s been doing it in his sleep since 2019.
Marcell Ozuna scores from second, and just like that, the Braves are in front for good. That wasn’t just a clutch hit—it was vintage Riley. The kind of swing that lives in his DNA. The kind that turns slumps into streaks and losses into wins.
Manager Brian Snitker put it perfectly: “That’s kind of his power alley right there… Hopefully, that’s a sign of good things to come.” And let’s be honest, Braves fans are ready for some of those “good things.”
Climbing the Charts: A Nod to Braves Franchise History
Now, add a little sprinkle of history on top: Riley passed Ralph Garr for 32nd on the Braves’ all-time total bases list with those four total bases. That’s 1,382 over 729 games. Not bad for a guy who’s supposedly slumping.
This is the kind of night that makes you wonder if momentum really is a thing you can bottle. This could be the turning point for Riley—a chance to shake off the slow start and get back to the pop the Braves built their lineup around. For Atlanta, it’s a sign that maybe, just maybe, this team has started to wake up.
