The Atlanta Braves rode again in the ninth, but came just short in a 5-4 loss to the Phillies. Atlanta drops to 16-12 on the season, while the Phillies improve to 10-14.
Josh Tomlin got the start and came into the game after not allowing a run in 15 1/3 this season. That changed quickly in the second inning when rookie third baseman Alec Bohm launched a long solo shot to center to make it 1-0. Philadelphia would add to the lead in the third, when Andrew McCutchen opened the inning with a leadoff single and then came round to score on a homer from Rhys Hoskins that extended the lead to 3-0. Didi Gregorius made it 4-0 later through two runners with a line-drive homer to the right.
The Braves came on board in the bottom half of the inning. Ender Inciarte worked a leadoff walk and then stepped up to third on a double by Dansby Swanson. Freddie Freeman brought both home with an opposite field double of his own to cut the deficit to 4-2. Freeman stepped up to third on a field out by Travis d’Arnaud and then came home to score on a final pass to Bohm from Marcell Ozuna to make it 4-3.
Touki Toussaint replaced Tomlin in the fourth and quickly worked his way into a jam. Bohm led with a single and stepped up to second after Andrew Knapp was hit by a pitch. Adam Haseley then dropped a sacrificial ban, but Toussaint kicked it out for a mistake to load the bases without one. McCutchen extended the lead to 5-3 with an end. Toussaint would dig in, knocking Hoskins out for the first time, while Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto came out flying to finish the inning without further damage.
Toussaint’s battle continued in the fifth, when he ran Gregory to start the inning. Jean Segura pointed to the right for the first out, but Toussaint ran Bohm on four ropes. He then fell behind Knapp 2-0 and Brian Snitker jumped out of the dugout, the midfield performance, to call Tyler Matzek out of the bullpen. Matzek got Knapp to choose a field star, ran pinch-hitter Roman Quinn to load the bases and then got McCutchen to fly to the center to end the threat.
Atlanta threatened in the sixth, but could not score. Duvall reached on an error with one out and then stepped up to third on a double by Austin Riley. Johan Camargo, however, swung out and Inciarte grounded out to first on the first field he saw to end the frame.
Riley led the ninth with a single, but was wiped out on the choice of a fielder by Camargo. Adeiny Hechavarria pinch hit for Inciarte and worked a walk. Swanson then grounded to Bohm at third who stepped on the bag for the second out, but his throw was not in time to get Swanson first. Freeman followed with a double in the left midfield that Camargo scored, but the relay box threw Swanson on the plate to end the game. The Braves challenged the play on the premise that Knapp blocked the record, but after a review stood the out call.
Tomlin was tagged for six hits including three homers and four runs in just three innings. Toussaint was able to allow two hits and one run in 1 1⁄3 innings of relief. He ran two more fighters with only 18 of his 38 pitches to find the regional zone. Matzek, Chris Martin, Will Smith and Luke Jackson combined to allow just two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings from the pin.
Swanson finished the game with three doubles, while Freeman and Riley each recorded two hits. Bohm went 3-for-3 for the Phillies.
The Braves will enjoy an off-day Monday before the Yankees enter the city for a two-game series that kicks off on Tuesday.
