The Philadelphia Phillies returned home last Thursday after a difficult road trip, looking to regain momentum in their season. Despite losing 3-1 to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night, the team left for Milwaukee with renewed confidence following a series win.
Earlier in the week, the Phillies’ lead in the National League East had dropped from seven games to four after being swept by the New York Mets. The weekend series against Atlanta was seen as a critical test, given that the Braves had challenged Philadelphia throughout their previous matchups this year.
Although they missed an opportunity to sweep Atlanta for the first time in four years—losing a late lead despite a strong performance from Jesús Luzardo—the Phillies increased their NL East lead back up to six games. They now head into a three-game series against Milwaukee, currently holding the best record in baseball.
“It’s huge,” said manager Rob Thomson. “They responded really well — and they usually do. It’s an experienced club; they’ve got short memories and they played really well.”
The Phillies scored 19 runs in Friday’s opener and won two close one-run games on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Luzardo and rookie Hurston Waldrep engaged in a pitching duel through six innings. Luzardo delivered 6 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up only two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. Over three games, Philadelphia’s starting pitchers allowed just two runs over 18 2/3 innings.
“That was a big bounce-back for us; much needed,” said Brandon Marsh, who hit a solo home run for Philadelphia’s only run on Sunday. “The pitchers pitched their butts off, and as a lineup as a whole, I felt like we did a really good job this series.”
Luzardo retired the first 13 batters before Michael Harris II singled and Eli White walked in the fifth inning. He struck out Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Sean Murphy to end Atlanta’s threat.
Reliever Orion Kerkering loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning before Tanner Banks limited Atlanta to one run on Matt Olson’s groundout that tied the game. In the ninth inning, Baldwin hit a two-run homer off Alvarado for what proved to be Atlanta’s winning margin.
“Atlanta played well, especially the last three games,” Thomson said. “It was a good series and a good series win.”
With little time between games, Philadelphia will begin its next series Monday at American Family Field against Milwaukee—a team that swept them at Citizens Bank Park three months ago.
“You always want to play ‘the best’ and you want to beat the best,” Marsh said. “They’re having a really, really good year. We’ll just focus on the first game tomorrow, try to take care of business in the first game in Milwaukee.”
