Final Score: Phillies 7, Braves 2
For years, Charlie Morton’s star transformation after an injury-shortened 2016 season with the Philadelphia Phillies has haunted the team’s fanbase. Wednesday afternoon, the Phillies spooked Morton in a fifth-inning offensive explosion, securing a series victory over the division-rival Atlanta Braves.
While the 38-year-old righty kept the Phillies off the board for the first four innings, things unraveled in the bottom of the fifth inning.
After a botched pickoff attempt from Morton allowed Bryson Stott to advance from first to third base, a red-hot Alec Bohm plated him with an RBI single into left field:
In total, the Phillies would score five runs in the home half of the fifth inning, with Odúbel Herrera, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto all driving in runs as well.
To their credit, the Braves got two runs back in the top of the sixth inning, with Matt Olson — increasingly developing into a Phillie killer — tagging Kyle Gibson for a two-run home run:
But Bohm was once again at the center of things in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Phillies added two insurance runs; one of which came on an RBI double by Bohm that scored Nick Castellanos, and the other on a Didi Gregorius sacrifice fly that brought Bohm home:
After going 2-for-4 in the series finale against the Braves, Bohm is batting .439 in what’s been an excellent month of July.
It perhaps wasn’t the most inspiring series victory, but the Phillies rebounded after being swept by the Chicago Cubs to take two of three from the defending World Series Champions. There’s something to be said for that.
With the win Wednesday, the Phillies improve to 51-46, while the Braves drop to 58-41. At the time of publication, Atlanta is 2 1/2 games back of the New York Mets in the National League East, while the Phillies are 8 1/2. The Braves still control the top Wild Card spot in the senior circuit, with the Phillies pulling into a temporary tie with the Cardinals for the third and final spot. St. Louis will finish their two-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays this evening.
The Phillies will open up a four-game series in Pittsburgh Thursday evening, looking to finish July on a strong note against a Pirates team that has a league-worst -144 run differential.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
- Charlie Morton allowed six hits and five runs — four of which were earned — over five innings Wednesday. Perhaps in the final season of what’s turned out to be an excellent career, Morton has a 4.34 ERA.
- Kyle Gibson bounced back after an ugly start last Friday to pitch six solid innings against the Braves, allowing four hits and two earned runs. The Phillies would sign up for that type of start from Gibson every time if they could.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Thursday, July 28 vs. Pirates at PNC Park
- 7:05 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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