Bullpen, home runs carry Phillies over Braves

Drew Smyly struggled, but the Philadelphia Phillies hit four home runs en route to a 9-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies are now 76-70 and remain two games behind the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers for the second National League Wild Card spot.

The first inning did not start well for Phillies starter Drew Smyly. After Ronald Acuna Jr. reached on a Maikel Franco throwing error and stole two bases, Ozzie Albies launched one into the left field seats to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.

The Phillies answered in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff home run by Cesar Hernandez, his second home run this series, which made it 2-1:

Can't spell Hernández without HR. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/svMP6b5RFb

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 12, 2019

While Smyly cruised through the next two innings, the Phillies offense kept hitting Teheran. In the bottom of the second, rookie Adam Haseley crushed a two-run home run to right-center field to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead:

All the rain earlier made it a little Hasey. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/VcrYVB7RXu

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 13, 2019

And the next inning, Jean Segura hit a two run home run of his own to give the Phillies a 5-2 lead.

After Smyly cruised through the second and third innings, he hit a road bump in the fourth. He walked Josh Donaldson to start the inning, and then allowed a long home run to Adam Duvall that cut the Phillies lead to 5-4. Brian McCann hit a one-out double representing the tying run, but Haseley made a great diving catch on a Dansby Swanson line drive and doubled up McCann at second to end the threat.

After a couple of quiet innings, the Phillies were able to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Maikel Franco hit a one-out double to right, and Hernandez singled him home. The throw beat Franco, but McCann missed the tag, which allowed Franco to score and make the score 6-4.

Smyly exited after just four innings of work, and for the third consecutive day, the Phillies bullpen entered the game early. And, for the third consecutive day, the Phillies bullpen pitched very well against a tough Braves lineup. The lone run allowed was by Blake Parker, who gave up a solo home run to Acuna Jr. in the top of the seventh to make it 6-5.

Jose Alvarez, who came into the game in the seventh, allowed two men on to start the eighth but quickly got two outs, leaving the game with the game tying run on third. Hector Neris came in and got Dansby Swanson to line out to right to end the threat and preserve the Phillies lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies blew this game open. After Haseley reached on a walk, Sean Rodriguez lined a double to the gap in left-center to make it 7-5. And later with two outs in the inning, J.T. Realmuto hit an opposite-field home run, his 25th of the season, to make it 9-5:

RT if @JTRealmuto is the best catcher in baseball.
Like if @JTRealmuto is the best catcher in baseball.
Keep scrolling if @JTRealmuto is the best catcher in baseball. pic.twitter.com/sjaw3UaGsE

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 13, 2019

That insurance was more than enough for Neris, who retired the Braves in order in the ninth. It was a very impressive series for the Phillies bullpen outside of one bad performance on Monday night:

Phillies bullpen in this series:
Nick Pivetta – IP, 3 ER (27.00 ERA)
All other relievers – 18.1 IP, 2 ER (0.98 ERA)

— Jonny Heller (@jonnyheller) September 13, 2019

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

• Drew Smyly looked sharp during select at-bats in this game, but the long ball continued to plague him, ultimately leading to his early exit. His line: 4 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 6 K
• Julio Teheran has had a really good season for the Braves, but couldn’t keep the ball in the park. His line: 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, K

 

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Adam Haseley

After struggling for much of August, Haseley has shined thus far in September. Tonight was a good representation of how the rookie has performed of late, with a go-ahead home run in the second inning and an excellent defensive play to prevent the Braves from getting the tying run home in the fourth. Right now, he is making a case to be the team’s starting center fielder next season.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Saturday, 7:o5 p.m. ET vs. Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park
• NBC Sports Philadelphia
• SportsRadio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680 (Spanish)

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