Bryce Elder Shines, Austin Riley Homers in Braves Spring Win

The article recaps a Grapefruit League clash where the **Atlanta Braves** topped the **Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1**. It highlights a shaky spring debut from left-hander Paul Skenes, a dominant two-inning stint by Bryce Elder, and a couple of offensive sparks, including Austin Riley’s first spring homer.

The piece also spotlights the Braves’ bullpen depth. This night sets a tone as spring training rolls on toward the regular season.

Pitching highlights in Grapefruit League play

The Braves leaned on strong command from their starter for two innings, then turned things over to a bullpen that limited the Pirates. Bryce Elder stood out early, delivering two clean frames with three strikeouts and no walks. He kept the ball down, making things tough for hitters.

By contrast, Paul Skenes had a rougher entry. He surrendered four walks in seven plate appearances, creating some drama but managed to escape jams, including striking out Riley with runners on in the first inning. Skenes showed he can compete even when things aren’t clicking perfectly.

Both teams relied on their bullpens, and the Braves rolled through seven relievers after Elder. That’s pretty standard in spring, where depth gets tested on the fly. The pitching staff fanned 13 and walked four, a strong showing in a game that balanced competition with spring tune-ups.

Specific notes on Skenes’ spring debut

Paul Skenes’ first spring appearance showed the kind of learning curve you’d expect in a new environment with everyone watching. The four walks and a couple of missed calls made for an imperfect start, but the Pirates’ threats fizzled thanks to timely strikes and solid defense. Despite the hiccups, Skenes flashed the stuff to compete against big-league hitters, and you could tell the Pirates’ lineup was still trying to figure him out.

Bryce Elder’s efficiency and command

In contrast, Bryce Elder looked like the picture of spring efficiency. He punched out three in two innings, didn’t issue a walk, and kept the ball low to avoid hard contact. His outing gave the Braves exactly what they’re hoping for from him as a reliable rotation piece, especially at a time when development matters more than results.

Offensive sparks and key moments

The Braves broke through with a nice mix of timing and power. Austin Riley blasted his first spring homer, a 419-foot shot to center that capped the scoring and reminded everyone of his pop. Earlier that inning, Drake Baldwin smacked a leadoff triple to spark things, and Jurickson Profar followed with a soft liner to bring Baldwin home. Riley’s moonshot finished off the rally and showed the Braves’ lineup can still bring it, even in March.

The team also took advantage of a few walks from Skenes, building a rhythm that let the bullpen work with some breathing room. The offense finished with a balanced approach, turning chances into a 3-1 lead as the Pirates faced a steady stream of Braves hitters contributing to the final tally.

Relief corps and bullpen depth

The Braves’ bullpen depth really showed up as they navigated the 3-1 win with a multi-armed approach. In the late innings, relievers kept the Pirates from mounting any kind of comeback. Javy Guerra bounced back from a rough previous outing and helped close things out, while Tyler Kinley, Dylan Lee, Dylan Dodd, Tyler LaPorte, Hayden Harris, and James Karinchak all chipped in for a disciplined effort on the mound.

• Tyler Kinley — worked late innings to preserve the lead.
• Dylan Lee — gave multi-inning support and avoided hard contact.
• Dylan Dodd — added depth and rhythm in the middle innings.
• Tyler LaPorte — kept the tempo up and hitters off balance.
• Hayden Harris — kept developing in his bullpen role.
• James Karinchak — offered late-inning strikeout stuff and reliability.
• Javy Guerra — closed the game, rebounding from earlier struggles.

Game notes and what’s next

Marcell Ozuna, back with some old teammates, went 0-for-2 with a walk. Spring games always seem to spark chatter about old ties and what’s ahead.

The Pirates made things interesting in the ninth, but a routine flyout shut them down. That let the Braves hang onto a 3-1 win.

Now, with spring practice rolling, the Braves head to Tampa to face the Yankees tomorrow. It’s a classic matchup—Atlanta gets to measure up against one of the big names and see if this early momentum really means something.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Bryce Elder solid, Austin Riley homers in spring win over Pirates