Riley unloads 3-run 8th as Atlanta takes Game 1, 5-3

99.9 mph heater was fastest he has homered off

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 38m1 min read

Ready for the moment in a challenging season where Austin Riley had career low performance by nearly every metric. Via @WerderEdNFL on X

What happened: Austin Riley drove a three-run homer in the eighth off Jhoan Duran on a 99.9 mph fastball, the fastest pitch he has hit for a homer in his career. The swing snapped a 14-at-bat hitless stretch and flipped the opener to a 5-3 Atlanta win.

Why it matters: The timing matters after a challenging season in which Riley ran career lows by nearly every metric. A middle-order bat producing late flips Atlanta's series math to 1-0 with the opener banked.

By the numbers: 99.9 mph: Duran fastball speed on Riley homer, fastest pitch he has homered off. 0-for-14: Riley skid before the swing. 5-3: Game 1 final with three runs from the eighth-inning homer.

What to watch: Atlanta moves to Game 2 with a 1-0 series lead and a revived cleanup presence.

Sources

@WerderEdNFL 2026-09-30T01:27:24.147630+00:00

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