PHOENIX (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves unleashed a historic offensive barrage Thursday night, turning a close game into a lopsided rout with an eight-run fifth inning on their way to a 17-2 demolition of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The 17 runs marked a season high for the Braves, who improved to 5-2, while the Diamondbacks fell to 3-4. A crowd of 21,600 watched as Atlanta amassed 16 hits, with first baseman Matt Olson leading the charge by going 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs.

The game’s decisive turning point came in the top of the fifth inning. Entering the frame with a narrow 2-1 lead, the Braves sent 13 men to the plate against three Arizona pitchers, transforming a tight contest into a blowout. The inning was a masterclass in patience and timely hitting, compounded by a critical Arizona error.

It began with Ozzie Albies drawing a walk after a successful challenge overturned a call on the field. After a lineout, Dominic Smith walked and Mauricio Dubón reached safely to load the bases when Nolan Arenado mishandled a potential inning-ending double-play ball. Ronald Acuña Jr. then worked a bases-loaded walk to force in the first run of the inning.

The floodgates opened from there. Drake Baldwin grounded into a force out that scored another run. Olson then laced a two-run double, and Austin Riley followed with a two-run double of his own. Mike Yastrzemski walked, Albies singled in a run in his second plate appearance of the inning, and Michael Harris II capped the explosive rally with a two-run double. When the dust settled, Atlanta had an 11-1 lead.

The Braves’ offensive onslaught continued throughout the night. Olson had started the scoring with a solo home run to center field in the first inning. Smith added a solo shot of his own in the third. Dubón homered to lead off the sixth inning, and pinch-hitter Jorge Mateo launched a two-run homer in a five-run ninth inning that put the final exclamation point on the victory.

On the mound, Reynaldo López earned the win for Atlanta, improving to 1-0. He worked five innings, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts. The lone blemish was a solo home run by Arizona’s Jordan Lawlar in the third inning. Osvaldo Bido recorded a three-inning save, his first of the season, yielding one run on two hits in the ninth.

Arizona starter Ryne Nelson took the loss, falling to 0-1. He was charged with two runs on three hits over 4 2/3 innings, but was spared the bulk of the fifth-inning damage after exiting with the bases loaded. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen struggled mightily, surrendering 15 runs over the final 4 1/3 frames.

Arizona’s offense was held to six hits. Lawlar’s homer and a ninth-inning RBI double by Ildemaro Vargas, which scored Gabriel Moreno, accounted for their only runs.

The victory defied pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 4-2 Braves win, while its ELO system gave Arizona a 52.7% probability of victory. Atlanta had been installed as a 1.5-run favorite, a spread they covered by the fifth inning. The combined 19 runs sailed over the posted over/under line of 8.5.

For Olson, the three-hit, three-RBI performance signaled a breakout. He had been 3-for-15 with two RBIs over Atlanta’s previous four games. The Braves entered the contest having taken two of three from the Athletics earlier in the week. Arizona was coming off a series win against the Detroit Tigers.

The two teams continue their four-game series at Chase Field on Friday night. The Braves will then travel to face the Los Angeles Angels for three games beginning Monday. The Diamondbacks embark on a lengthy road trip next week, with series against the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles.

Thursday’s game time was 2 hours, 54 minutes.