ATLANTA — First baseman Matt Olson hit a three-run homer to back six strong innings from starting pitcher Bryce Elder, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday at Truist Park to avoid being swept in the three-game series at Truist Park.
After the Diamondbacks’ Ildemaro Vargas homered in the seventh off Didier Fuentes (5-1) to tie the game at 2, Olson hit a 3-0 pitch from Brandyn Garcia over the center-field wall with two outs and a pair of runners aboard in the bottom half. The 437-foot shot was Olson’s 36th homer of the season.
Elder bounced back from one of his worst starts of the season by allowing just four hits, including Gabriel Moreno’s homer leading off the fourth that made it 1-all. Elder surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in a loss to the New York Mets in his most recent start before Sunday’s series finale.
Ronald Acuña Jr. put the Braves up 2-1 with a run-scoring double in the fifth, but he struck out against Garcia with runners at first and third in the seventh. Olson followed with the winning homer as the Braves salvaged the series finale after losing 2-0 on Friday and 10-3 on Saturday.
Raisel Iglesias surrendered a run in the ninth but still secured his 25th save of the year.
The San Diego Padres remain the lone team to sweep a three-game set this season against Atlanta, which improved to 74-50 overall and sits atop the National League East Division standings with a 7 1/2-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.
The Diamondbacks dropped to 66-59 and are third in the NL West, eight games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and one game behind the Padres. Arizona is also one game behind the Padres and the Phillies for the third and final wild-card spot in the NL playoff picture.
After hitting two homers in a blowout win Saturday, Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado left Sunday’s game with what was described as left trunk discomfort. He slowed up noticeably while running to first in the fourth inning, decided to leave the game and was replaced by Vargas.
Arenado, who will have as MRI, said after the game that he was worried because he’s never felt such pain.
Michael Soroka went 5 2/3 innings against his former team, surrendering six hits and two runs. Taylor Clarke (2-3) took the loss.
The Braves will head to Minneapolis to open a three-game series against the American League Central’s Minnesota Twins starting Monday. Atlanta left-hander Martín Pérez (8-6, 2.96 ERA) will try to extend a streak of 18 consecutive scoreless innings when he starts the opener, while the Twins will counter with right-hander Bailey Ober (7-4, 4.64).
Ahead of Sunday’s game, Atlanta recalled left-handed reliever Ray Kerr and designated Danny Young for assignment.
The 31-year-old Kerr last pitched in the big leagues for the Braves in 2024. He underwent Tommy John surgery that season and didn’t pitch at all in 2025.
After completing his recovery, Kerr returned to the mound in mid-July and has pitched in nine games with four minor league affiliates, including Triple-A Gwinnett. He posted a 3.09 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.
Young, a 32-year-old lefty, went 0-1 with an 8.03 ERA in 16 appearances for the Braves. He gave up three earned runs, including a homer, in Saturday’s loss to Arizona.