*Photo from Battery Power*
This rivalry is certainly alive and well. Matt Olson drove in 3 runs, Adam Duvall had two RBI's of his own, and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 on Friday afternoon in Philadelphia.
A day late after the original opener was postponed, the Braves rallied for 9 runs over two innings late in the game, spurred largely by a 7 run 8th inning. The Braves have been unable to get past the Phillies in the playoffs the last two years, but they certainly made a statement to start the season.
Brandon Marsh started the scoring in the 5th inning after 4 scoreless innings. Marsh cranked a two run home run to center field, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead. In the 7th inning, Duvall tied the game for the Braves, hitting a two run double to left field. Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuna Jr hit RBI singles in the 8th to make it 4-2 Braves.
Later in the 8th inning, Travis D'Arnaud made it 5-2 Braves when he scored on a wild pitch. Duvall then scored on a bases loaded walk to make it a 6-2 game before Olson cleared the bases with a 3 run double, breaking the game open. Nick Castellanos trimmed the deficit to 6 in the 9th for the Phillies with an RBI single to make it a 9-3 game.
Spencer Strider got the start for the Braves, allowing two runs while striking out 8 hitters in 5 innings pitched. Joe Jimenez, Pierce Johnson, and AJ Minter all delivered a scoreless inning after that, with Johnson getting credit for the win. Aaron Bummer allowed a run in the 9th while closing out the win.
Harris II talked about Strider's performance, saying that "They haven't seen the curveball from him, so it kind of surprised them. They didn’t expect it. It was very effective and it kept them quiet."
Zack Wheeler delivered 6 shutout innings in his start for the Phillies before the Braves rallied. Matt Strahm gave up the two runs in the 7th while only getting one out. Jeff Hoffman finished the inning before Jose Alvarado gave up 5 runs and Connor Brogdon two. Yunior Marte pitched a scoreless 9th.
Marsh said of trying to beat the Braves after the game that "It's a big challenge. I don’t need to say it, but that’s a really good ballclub over there. They’ve shown it year in and year out. But I’m not too worried about the division, to be honest. I mean, we’ve got 161 more to go."
Game two of the series is on Saturday afternoon. The Braves go for the series win as Max Fried takes the mound, countered by Aaron Nola for the Phillies as they try to even the series.
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