Final Score: Phillies 13, Braves 8
The Phillies’ losing streak when Aaron Nola starts finally ends at nine as the ace earned his first victory since Aug. 20, 2019.
The offense combined to hit five home runs and score 13 runs to split the four-game home series against the Atlanta Braves. Three of them came in the second inning.
They combined to score seven runs and sent 10 men to the plate in that same frame. Per Elias Sports Bureau, it is the first time in franchise history the team hit four home runs and scored 10 runs in the first two innings of a game.
The only sour note of the night was the bullpen’s inability to pitch a scoreless ninth inning. Nick Pivetta and Trevor Kelley combined to surrender seven earned runs in the ninth inning to further solidify the Phillies ‘pen as the worst in MLB.
The homestand continues on for the Phillies as they will welcome the Baltimore Orioles to town for a three-game set beginning Tuesday. Zack Wheeler will face off against Alex Cobb in the first game of the series.
Top Plays
- After back-to-back singles from Phil Gosselin and Rhys Hoskins, Harper destroyed a middle-middle fastball from Sean Newcomb, launching it 445 ft. into the visiting bullpen for a three-run home run.
- The Braves continued to be aggressive early in the count and it paid off in the top of the second. Former Phillies trade chip Travis d’ Arnaud homered on an 0-1 fastball to the cut the Phils’ lead to down to two.
- An inning later, the Phillies would put this game out of reach with three home runs in the second. Roman Quinn hit his fifth career home run from the right-side and seventh overall to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead.
- Play was briefly halted after Harper was hit with an 86 mph changeup. Thankfully, there was padding on the hand that was hit and he remained in the game.
- With the bases loaded and only one away, Gregorius launched his third home run on this season, a grand slam to give the Phillies an 8-1 lead. It was the sixth grand slam of his career.
- For the first time since Sept. 10, 2019, the Phillies hit back-to-back home runs. Segura followed Gregorius with an opposite-field solo home run, extending the lead to 10-1.
- In games where Realmuto homers at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies came into today with an 18-2 record. After today, they’ll be 19-2 as the 29-year-old sent another ball to the back row in left field.
- The Braves’ miserable night continued when Realmuto’s hard-hit ball knocked Austin Riley off his feet. Another run scored for the Phillies and Riley was given an error on the play.
- Pivetta came into the game to relieve Nola and gave up a solo home run to the No. 9 hitter Johan Camargo. Pivetta would go on to give up four more earned runs in his outing. He now has a 15.88 ERA on the season.
- Nick Markakis notched his 500th career double off Pivetta in the ninth. He became the 64th player all-time to reach the milestone and the fourth active player. The three others are Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera and Robinson Canó.
- The ‘pen’s struggles continued as Kelley gave up a two-run home to left-center to Riley.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
Sean Newcomb: 1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 47 pitches
The ball was absolutely flying out of the park. Newcomb’s ERA took a beating today as the Phillies hit three home runs off of him, good for eight earned runs. His bullpen didn’t fair much better.
Aaron Nola: 8 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 89 pitches
In normal circumstances, Nola would have finished this game and earned his first complete-game win of his career. Instead, he was pulled after eight innings to avoid risking injury. The 27-year-old followed up one of the best outings of his career against the Yankees with another gem.
Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Aaron Nola
The offense deserves all the credit in the world, but Nola threw one of the best games of his major-league career Monday night. He struck out ten Atlanta hitters and pitched as efficiently as he ever had. It was the 14th time in his career Nola racked up double-digit strikeouts and the second time he had done it in consecutive games.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Tuesday at 7:05 pm vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park
- NBC Sports Philadelphia+
- Sportsradio 94 WIP
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