Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Phillies blow another comeback in extra-inning loss to Braves

Trea Turner tied the game in the ninth. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Final: Braves 7, Phillies 6

It was a familiar story at Citizens Bank Park.

A dramatic comeback. A late-inning home run so exciting that you’re sure it’ll go down one of the moments of the season. Then, just like that, the Phillies lose.

For the second time in as many days, the Philadelphia wasted a thrilling comeback against the first-place Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. After Atlanta’s stars slugged their way to an early lead, the Phillies pushed back in the late innings as Trea Turner launched a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth.

But just as it went on Monday following a ninth-inning, game-tying homer from Bryce Harper in the first half of a doubleheader, the Phillies lost it in the 10th. Eddie Rosario drove in the automatic runner with an RBI single off Craig Kimbrel to lift the Braves to a 7-6 victory.

Nick Castellanos put the Phillies on the board with a home run in the bottom of the second to go ahead 1-0, but Zack Wheeler — after three scoreless innings — ran into trouble against Atlanta’s top sluggers. He allowed Matt Olson to hit his major-league-leading 51st home run to tie a Braves record for homers in a single season and tie the game, 1-1. In the fifth, Wheeler surrendered a two-run homer to Ronald Acuña Jr. and a three-run blast to Marcell Ozuna.

As Seranthony Domínguez and Yunior Marte combined for three scoreless innings in relief of Wheeler, the Phillies added a run in the seventh on a Trea Turner RBI single. The comeback attempt got serious in the bottom of the eighth as the Las Vegas boys went deep, Bryce Harper hitting a solo homer for his 1,500th career hit and Bryson Stott connecting for a two-run home run to center field to bring the Phillies within one at 6-5.

With two outs in the inning, Johan Rojas reached on a walk and stole second base. But Braves reliever A.J. Minter struck out Kyle Schwarber to prevent further damage.

José Alvarado delivered a huge ninth inning to keep Atlanta off the board, something Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias couldn’t match in the bottom of the frame. Turner turned on a fastball to lead off the ninth for the Phillies, driving a homer to left field — the 150th of his career — to make it a 6-6 game.

The Phillies had two more runners reach base with a big opportunity to win it in the ninth, but J.T. Realmuto struck out and Castellanos hit into a double play to end the inning.

Craig Kimbrel entered to pitch the 10th for the Phillies and allowed a run on the base hit to Rosario. Former Phillie Brad Hand then closed it out for Atlanta, stranding the automatic runner at third after a sacrifice bunt to start the half inning.

Following another crushing loss after splitting a doubleheader on Monday, the Phillies (79-66) will have the chance to salvage a series split on Wednesday in the finale of the four-game set.

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