Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Phillies lose back-and-forth battle in series opener against Braves

Aaron Nola struggled tonight. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Braves 8, Phillies 5

For the first time this season, the Phillies and Braves squared off as the NL East foes started a four-game series in Atlanta tonight.

The pitching matchup — Aaron Nola (4.31 ERA) vs. Dylan Dodd (6.46 ERA) — seemingly favored the Phillies. But neither starting pitcher was effective and a back-and-forth battle between the first place Braves and fourth place Phillies broke out at Truist Park.

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Atlanta jumped out to an early lead tonight. After a one-out single by Matt Olson in the bottom of the first, Austin Riley lifted a ball out to deep left-center field for a two-run home run:

The Braves lead did not last long, though. With one out in the top of the second, J.T. Realmuto singled and then Alec Bohm drove a 1-0 fastball over the center field fence to tie the game:

Three hitters later, Bryson Stott stepped into the batter’s box with two outs and Brandon Marsh, who singled, on first. Stott lined a ball into the right-center field gap for a double and Marsh came all the way home to put the Phillies on top 3-2.

But, just like the Braves lead, the Phillies lead didn’t last more than half an inning as Marcell Ozuna hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to tie the game at three runs apiece:

The third inning was filled with more opportunities for both teams to score, but they each came up empty. Philadelphia couldn’t capitalize with the bases loaded and one out in the top half of the inning. Then, after Atlanta had runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom half of the third, Nola struck out the next three hitters he faced to keep the game tied at 3-3.

In the fourth, Nola found himself in another jam, but was able to limit the damage to just one run. With runners on first and third with one out, Michael Harris II poked a ball out to left field for a sacrifice fly to put the Braves on top 4-3. Nola then got Ronald Acuña Jr. to ground out to end Atlanta’s threat.

The back-and-forth battle continued in the fifth inning. Bryce Harper pulled a ball 445 feet into the right field seats for his third home run of the season to tie the game:

And then Atlanta regained the lead in the bottom of the inning as Riley slugged his second home run of the night:

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Phillies put together a two-out rally in the seventh. Harper reached base with a bunt single. Nick Castellanos then singled through the infield. That brought Kyle Schwarber to the dish, who doubled down the right field line and, for a moment, gave the Phillies a 6-5 lead:

But after a close plate at the plate, where Castellanos was ruled safe, Atlanta challenged the call. And, after a lengthy review, the call was overturned and the inning ended with the score at 5-5.

In the home half of the eighth, Rob Thomson called upon Gregory Soto to keep the game tied — and his bizarre season continued. The lefty struck out the first batter he faced, but he then gave up a single, double and a walk to load the bases. With Travis d’Arnaud pinch-hitting, Soto gave up another single and the Braves took the lead:

The bases were loaded again two batters later for Olson and he drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to extend Atlanta’s lead to three. Soto was then removed from the game.

The Phillies would go down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to end the game.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

Aaron Nola pitched six innings tonight and gave up five earned runs on eight hits. He struck out seven hitters and walked two.
Nola gave up three home runs tonight — the first time he has done so since July 18, 2019.
After allowing three earned runs in the eighth inning, Gregory Soto now has a 5.73 ERA on the year.
With their loss tonight, the Phillies are now 23-27 on the season and are eight games behind the Braves in the NL East standings.

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