Braves Avoid Sweep in Finale

Atlanta Braves

6

Final

Philadelphia Phillies

2

The Braves and Phillies spent a Sunday afternoon blowing opportunities at Citizens Bank Park. But the visitors cashed in a few more than the hosts, avoiding a sweep in the four-game series with a 6-2 win in the finale.

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Phils’ rookie Adam Morgan continued his inconsistent pitching, yielding 4 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks across 5 innings. Morgan (2-3) was cruising into the 5th, when it all fell apart on him with two outs.

With a runner on first, a balk call seemed to unravel the rookie. The call moved Cameron Maybin, who had led off the frame with a walk, over to 2nd base. Chris Johnson then scored him with an RBI single. Jonny Gomes then walked on a 3-2 pitch, and Jace Peterson delivered the game’s big blow, driving a 3-run homer to right field.

The rally put the Braves on top by 4-1, as the Phils’ had scored first thanks to a 2nd inning RBI single by Cody Asche, scoring Ryan Howard, who had left off the inning with a double.

The Phillies got another run back immediately after the big Braves 5th. In their half of the inning, Cesar Hernandez drove a ground-rule double to right center, and was brought home by an Odubel Herrera RBI single to make it a 4-2 game.

In the 7th, the Braves pulled away against the Phillies bullpen. First it was Gomes delivering a big 2-out RBI single off Justin De Fratus to make it 5-2. Then Ryan Lavarnaway grounded an RBI single off Jeanmar Gomez to bring home the final run of the 6-2 game.

By taking 3 of the 4 games in the series, the Phils have moved within 2.5 games of the Miami Marlins and  6.5 games of Atlanta in the NL East. Despite the loss, they have won 12 of 15 over the last three weeks. They have an off-day on Monday before welcoming back iconic franchise all-time Hits leader Jimmy Rollins and the Dodgers for a series starting Tuesday night.