The Atlanta Braves took on the Philadelphia Phillies today a day after the dramatic win yesterday that secured the season series. If they won today they would also take this series 3-1 and take a large 6.0 game lead in the division. Grant Holmes who has been very good when he is good, and very bad when his not, took the mound for the Braves and All-Star Jesús Luzardo took the mound for the Phillies in the midst of his best season he has ever had.
The Braves were sat down in order in the first inning, but Grant Holmes was not able to reciprocate. Kyle Schwarber led off with a single. After a Trea Turner fly out, Holmes walked Bryce Harper. He got Arreaz to line out, and then walked Bohm to load the bases. This is uncharacteristic for Holmes, even with a top heavy lineup like the Phillies. It is normally the second time through that gets to him. Fortunately, he got Stott to line out to Harris who made a great read on the ball and made a difficult play look easy.
In the second, Matt Olson struck out on a challenge that was about as close to being a ball as it possibly could be. Thomas, who has four HRs against Luzardo in his career, grounded out followed by Harris also striking out on a challenge. Holmes looked much better in the second by retiring the side in order while picking up a strikeout along the way.
The Braves finally got a baserunner in the third inning due to Austin Riley getting hit by a pitch, but that was the only offense the Braves could muster. The top half of the order gave Holmes trouble the first time around so the second time was scary to think about. However, Holmes was settled in and struck out Schwarber, Turner, and Harper all in order. It is safe to say, the third inning was huge.
The Braves ended the no hitter in the fourth inning when Matt Olson had a single. before that hit, Olson only had five hits in his last forty-four at-bats. This was yet again the only offense the Braves could muster. Baldwin struck out, Albies grounded out, and Thomas struck out as well. Holmes came back out for the fourth with a vengeance striking out Arraez for his fourth strikeout in a row and then retiring both Bohm and Stott to make it ten straight hitters retired.
The fifth inning showed once again that the Braves have been a bottom five offense in the last two weeks when they were retired in order as Harris, Dubón, and Riley could not get it done. Holmes came out to pitch the fifth and his ten hitter streak ended when Marsh hit a single, but he then struck out Realmuto and got Justin Crawford to ground into a double play.
In a shocking development, the Braves were sat down in order again in the sixth when Kim and Acuña struck out, and Baldwin grounded out. Holmes stayed in the game to face the top of the order for the third time. He was able to hold his own. He got Schwarber to fly out, but then surrendered a double to Turner. He kept his composure and got Harper to ground out, which moved the runner to third, and then got Arraez to line out to end the sixth.
Yet again the Braves were sat down in order in the seventh. Lane Thomas was the final out of the seventh, which was disappointing considering the history he has had against Luzardo. Didier Fuentes replaced Holmes in the seventh. Holmes had one of the best starts of his career and tied his season high in innings pitched with 6.0. He gave up only three hits and had six strikeouts to only two walks. Fuentes struck out Bohm and Stott and then got Marsh to fly out, lowering his season ERA to 2.23.
The Phillies opted to leave Luzardo in to pitch the eighth inning, and it was the right move. Harris hit a single, but then Dubón hit into a double play and Riley struck out. Fuentes stayed in to pitch the eighth and struck out Realmuto and Crawford. Realmuto challenged the call, but it was upheld. Then, Schwarber did what he does best. He hit a HR on a pitch that Fuentes pitched right down the middle of the plate, to give the Phillies the lead. This was all it took. Turner flied out, but it did not matter.
In the ninth Luzardo stayed in the game and struck out Kim. Acuña walked, but then Baldwin struck out and then Albies flied out on the first pitch saw to end it.
Luzardo was able to pitch a complete game and only give up two singles while striking out twelve and walking one. The Braves are going to have a tough time in the playoffs if this keeps up on offense. This is not the first time the offense has wasted a stellar start from an SP.
The Braves are not getting in breaks as they will face the Tampa Bay Rays for three games starting tomorrow where the back end of their rotation will taking them on. Hopefully the offense can get going or this is going to be a long few weeks.
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