Phillies-Braves Series; Offense Heating Up But No Sweep This Time.
Game 1: Phillies Rack Up the Runs
The Phillies capitalized on a struggling Braves pitcher, Charlie Morton, and racked up the hits and the runs. They did so with Harper and Segura who were able to be added to the roster. By the end of the first, Phillies managed to put 5 runs on the board. Charlie Morton was removed after only recording two outs in the first inning, swapped for Josh Tomlin hoping to have better success. Tomlin allowed a run in 4 1/3 innings, but unfortunately, the Braves couldn’t avoid additional harm. Phillies won 12-2.
“You see it tonight, knocking around one of the best starters in the game the last give years,” Jean Segura boasted, “That tells you how deep of a lineup we have. It’s a scary lineup.”
Indeed, it can be a scary lineup if the players remain healthy and continue to hit at bats this strongly.
A six spot! In the first! And the inning is still going! #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/p7IGgNZSmc
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 7, 2021
Jean Segura arrived just in time off the IL and hit four times. He landed on the IL prior when he strained his right quad in April. This game, Segura was 4 for 5 with two RBIs. Bryce Harper had two hits including a double in his return. Alec Bohm has been a strong additon to this team. He has been generally consistent batting and defensively. Bohm managed to go 2 for 5 with two RBIs. One of those was a bases loaded RBI single that gave the Phillies first strike on the scoreboard. He’s been hitting .296 with a .815 OPS in seven games. JT Realmuto homered in the 8th.
In short, the ball was flying, the bats were smashing runs, and the phillies had a productive day against the Braves.
Game 2: Phillies Hand Over a Win to the Braves and End Their Winning Streak
Phillies-Braves game two resulted in a loss for the Phillies whose 5-win winning streak came to an end. It happened in extras. The Phillies managed to blow a two-run lead in the 9th inning, a one-run lead in the 11th and a 3-run lead in the 12th. Very frustrating, they could have took this game at any point but ultimately didn’t handing over this game to the Braves. Phillies lose 7-8 to the Braves.
Pablo Sandavol wow, Hector Neris isn’t a great closer & blows another 😂😂 The stadium is packed!!! #Mets back in first place!! #Braves #Phillies https://t.co/ffvdtK1fa3
— Diane M (@MetsSouthFla) May 9, 2021
Hector Neris was responsible for the mishap in the 9th as he attempted to close the game. He walked Ehire Adianza with two outs but couldn’t secure the game. Neris threw a 1-2 fastball down the middle and Pablo Sandoval crushed it tying the game with a two-run home run. Neris is 1-3 with a 2.93 ERA, 6 saves out of 8. His numbers look good but he’s known to lose in dramatic fashion when it comes down to the wire, when the games are close. Girardi says that Neris “has pitched well” and has no plans to consider other options.
Today’s Game:
The Phillies-Braves series continues tonight at 7:08 at Truist Park, airing on ESPN. It will be a battle of the pitchers. Braves will be using Huascar Ynoa to start, who has a 2.36 ERA in 34 1/3 innings. The pitcher has struck out 38 and only walked 8 batters. The Braves are hoping he can continue that performance today to take the series. However, the Phillies aren’t slouching and are using their ace, Aaron Nola, who has a 2.89 ERA, 49 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings this season. Both are fighting to take the series but only one will be sucessful in this exciting, action-packed series.
Who do you think will take this series?
