By: Matthew Mack
After beating the Washington Nationals over the weekend. The Phillies faced another division rival the Atlanta Braves in a three game series in Philly.
While the Sixers were playing the Atlanta Hawks at “The Center” on Tuesday. The Phillies were in a battle with the Braves. Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto hit home-runs in this game. Their 8th and 6th respectively. Ronald Acuña hit a home-run in the third inning for them. His 18th of the season. It unraveled for Philly in the top of the 8th. They were leading five-four. Then Austin Riley hit a solo bomb to center which started a five-run outburst in the inning. Atlanta did not look back as they left Philly in the dust nine-five. Aaron Nola did not have his best game as he went five innings, striking out eight, walking two while giving up seven hits on four runs, all earned.
On Wednesday night, Zach Eflin started for Philly and put up a solid performance by going six innings, striking out seven, and walking two batters. The lone run he gave up was in the sixth when William Contreras hit a RBI single to center, scoring Dansby Swanson. Atlanta had a one run lead at that point. Moving into the bottom of the ninth, Andrew McCutchen walked bringing up the rookie, Luke Williams, who was on the Team USA Olympic qualifying team not too long ago. Williams got on one and hit a bomb that managed to go over the fence to win it for the Phils 2-1. Not only did he have his first Major League hit the night before, it was also his first Major League home run of his career.
Today, the Philles donned the powder blues and gave the ball to Zack Wheeler. Eight innings later, he would strike out 12 batters. When he left the game, it was still 0-0. In the bottom of the eighth, Jean Segura hit a RBI doubled to the left, scoring Odúbel Herrera. Héctor Neris then needed 3 outs to get the save in the 9th, only to blow it thanks to Freddie Freeman solo homer, his 14th, to send the game into extra innings.
Never mind the fact that defensive ineptitude reared its ugly head in the top of the 10th for the Phils, giving up two runs. In the bottom of the 10th, with the game 3-2, the Phillies came up with more comeback magic when Segura hit a game-winning 2-run RBI single to win it 4-3, winning the series.
Now they prepare for a two-game series with the New York Yankees. Let’s be honest, the Yanks are a tough team to face. The Phillies are now starting to gain momentum, winning back to back series against division foes. The main thing is to keep it consistent. The defensive ineptitude must be at an all time minimum in this series. With three and a half games between them and the Mets. The margin for error is very thin. If they want to go for the division they will need to beat the Yankees. Getting a Wild Card spot may be out of the question for now. The schedule does not get easier after the Yankees. With the Dodgers and Giants on deck. There is not much room for error. They just need to keep it going.
