ANAHEIM, Calif. (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves, stung by a series-opening loss, responded with a methodical offensive performance and a dominant showing from their bullpen to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

A crowd of 40,450 watched the Braves even the three-game series and improve their season record to 7-5, while the Angels fell to .500 at 6-6.

The most important part of the game unfolded not with a single swing, but through a sustained offensive response and a critical shutdown performance by the Atlanta bullpen. After Jorge Soler’s two-run homer in the first inning staked the Angels to an early 2-0 lead, the Braves immediately began chipping away. They got one run back in the second on an RBI double by Eli White, then seized control with a three-run fourth inning off Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi. Austin Riley and Jonah Heim delivered run-scoring singles in the frame, with a sacrifice fly from White in between, to give Atlanta a 4-2 lead.

That lead was entrusted to the Braves’ relievers, who delivered six and one-third scoreless innings. The pivotal sequence came in the bottom of the eighth. With Tyler Kinley pitching, the Angels loaded the bases with no outs on a hit-by-pitch and a walk. Kinley struck out Logan O’Hoppe, and then closer Raisel Iglesias entered to strike out Travis d’Arnaud, extinguishing the Angels’ last serious threat and preserving the two-run advantage.

The Braves then put the game out of reach with two insurance runs in the ninth, aided by an RBI single from Drake Baldwin and a run scoring on a double play.

The top star for Atlanta was Reynaldo López, though he did not factor in the decision. Entering in relief in the first inning, López provided critical stability, pitching four and two-thirds innings of scoreless, three-hit ball while striking out seven. His effort bridged the gap to the back end of the bullpen after the Angels’ early outburst.

Kikuchi took the loss for Los Angeles, falling to 0-2. He worked five innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out eight. Kinley earned the win for Atlanta, his first of the season, by recording two key outs in the eighth. Iglesias secured his second save with one and two-thirds innings of work, punctuated by a game-ending double play in the ninth.

The Braves’ offense accumulated 12 hits, with seven of their nine starters recording at least one. White drove in two runs, while Ozzie Albies added a solo home run in the eighth inning. The Angels managed only six hits, with Soler’s first-inning blast accounting for all their scoring.

The victory followed a 6-2 loss to the Angels on Monday and helped Atlanta avoid its first three-game losing streak of the young season. The Braves had been installed as pregame favorites, and the combined nine total runs stayed under the sportsbook over/under line of 8.5.

The teams conclude their series Wednesday afternoon. Atlanta will then return home to open a series against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, while the Angels will embark on a road trip starting in Cincinnati against the Reds.