Phillies can’t overcome 4 RBI night from Ronald Acuña Jr. in 4-3 loss to Braves.
Ronald Acuña Jr. drove in all 4 runs for Atlanta as the Braves beat the Phillies 4-3, handing them their third straight loss.
Braves (90-55) Beat Phillies (80-65)
- Winning Pitcher: Dylan Lee (4-1, 2.51)
- Losing Pitcher: Aaron Nola (9-12, 3.38)
- Save: Kenley Jansen (34, 3.76)
Just in case you haven’t figured it out by now, the Braves are better than the Phillies. The Braves who have a 67-28 record since June 1st may not only be better than the Phillies, but every other team in baseball as well.
The Phillies certainly don’t have someone in the lineup who is as dynamic as Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña beat the Phils on Friday night and on Saturday accounted for all 4 of the Braves runs, including a 2-run blast in the 3rd and a 2-RBI double in the 4th inning. In the field he was nearly as good, robbing Bryce Harper of a bases loaded base hit in Phillies half of the 5th.
To be honest, I think the Phillies were probably expecting more from Aaron Nola tonight. He pitched ok, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings. I will certainly give him credit for keeping his team in the game on the road in a tough environment, although Nola these days seems less and less like an elite starter and more like someone you wouldn’t mind starting the third game of a playoff series.
The Phillies offense also isn’t doing enough to help Nola and his teammates in the starting rotation. 5 runs in two games against a potential playoff opponent cant be the game plan for this team come October. Hell, if they keep playing like this there is a good chance they wont even make the playoffs.
I think we all knew that this series in Atlanta wasn’t set up for the Phillies to have success. But this stretch of games over the next week against Toronto and the Braves may very well decide those playoff hopes. The Phillies should be desperate to salvage the series with a victory tomorrow afternoon.
I know I am.
Ronald Acuna Jr hits a 2-run shot for the second consecutive night to gives the Braves the lead in the 3rd inning.
2-0 Braves
The Phils strand two runners in scoring position in the 4th inning.
Ronald Acuña Jr pushes home another two runs in the 4th inning. Pain.
4-0 Braves
Bryce Harper is robbed of at least one run by Ronald Acuña with the bases loaded in the 5th inning.
Matt Vierling knocks in his second run of the ballgame to cut into the Braves lead in the 7th.
4-2 Braves
Bryson Stott cuts the Braves lead to one run with an RBI single in the 8th inning.
4-3 Braves
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies will to avoid the series sweep as well as a 4-game losing streak when they take on the Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon.
Bailey Falter (5-3, 3.80) will toe the rubber facing off against Spencer Strider (10-5, 2.72) with the first pitch scheduled for 1:35 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Atlanta Braves
