Braves win second straight vs the Phillies, 5-4 final
The Phillies were back in action tonight in Atlanta to face the Braves after getting pounded last night in a game they lost 8-1. Ronald Acuna Jr had four hits last night, including a two-run home run that gave Atlanta the lead. The Braves kept pouring it on and Charlie Morton pitched six strong innings. Wheeler was roughed up and allowed three runs and seven hits in just 4 2/3 innings of work.
Zach Eflin was on the mound hoping to guide the Phillies to a quick rebound win in Atlanta. Ian Anderson was on the mound for the Braves. The Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a McCutchen walk and hits by Bohm and Harper loaded the bases for Didi Gregorius. Didi hit a single and scored Cutch and Harper. Gregoris now has 63 RBIs with the bases loaded since 2016, which is the most in Major League Baseball.
The Braves didn’t waste any time striking back in the bottom of the first inning after Albies doubled to deep right scoring Acuna followed by Phillies killer Freddie Freeman hitting a two-run home run to deep right field. Luckily for the Phillies, Eflin would find a groove after a rough bottom of the first and Andrew McCutchen hit a home run in the top of the fifth inning to tie the ballgame at three.
It was only a matter of time before Bryce Harper did what Bryce Harper does best and absolutely murder a baseball out of a ballpark this season. It couldn’t have come at a better time. In the top of the sixth inning, Bryce crushed a home run to deep right center to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead.
Dansby Swanson hit an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth after Eflin left a fastball over the plate to tie the game at four and remained tied until the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners on the corner, Freddie Freeman hit a grounder back to Jose Alvarado, who immediately turned his back to throw to second. Didi Gregorius pointed to home but it was too late and the Braves scored to take a 5-4 lead.
Really sloppy play from the Phillies defense in Atlanta. If I’m Joe Girardi, I’m throwing chairs in the locker room after the game. Simply can’t have those types of brain farts in a tie ball game against your division rivals. Alvarado limited the damage with back-to-back strikeouts and the Phillies headed into the 8th inning down just one run and failed to capitalize.
In the 9th inning, the Phillies sent Segura, Knapp, and Roman Quinn to the plate. With that type of lineup coming to the plate, you would think that the Phillies were going to mount a comeback but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The Braves have taken the first two games in the series. Their bullpen retired their last 10 hitters they faced.
Up Next: Matt Moore is on the mound tomorrow looking to avoid the sweep against former Phillies’ pitcher Drew Smyly at 7:08pm.
Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY
