Freddie Freeman homered for the second straight game while Huascar Ynoa turned in another strong performance on the mound to help the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
The game got off to a fast start as Andrew McCutchen greeted Huascar Ynoa rudely homering on the first pitch of the game to stake the Phillies to an early lead. This time, the Braves didn’t wait long to answer back. Ronald Acuña Jr. returned to the lineup after a scary hit by pitch in Saturday’s game. He worked a lead off walk from Aaron Nola and then swiped second base. Freddie Freeman followed with a single to center that scored Acuña to tie the game.
After a Marcell Ozuna groundout, Ozzie Albies gave the Braves the lead with a triple to center that scored Freeman to make it 2-1.
Nola then struck out Austin Riley but then allowed a two-run home run to Dansby Swanson to increase the lead to 4-1.
The Braves tacked on another run in the third as Freddie Freeman connected on his ninth home run of the season to extend the lead to 5-1.
Nola would exit after four having allowed five hits and five runs. He struck out four and walked one while allowing a pair of homers. He threw just 58 pitches which was the fewest he has ever thrown in a major league start.
Ynoa has been one of the season’s biggest surprises for the Braves and Sunday’s game was more of the same. He held the Phillies in check after McCutchen’s homer allowing just four hits and that single run over six innings. He struck out six and walked just one.
Tyler Matzek allowed a lead off single in the seventh but then flagged down a come backer off the bat of Odubel Herrera over his shoulder to start a nifty double play. He then struck out Scott Kingery to end the inning.
A.J. Minter sat the Phillies down in order in the eighth and Atlanta tacked on another run in the bottom half of the frame as Riley doubled home Albies to push the lead to 6-1. Luke Jackson closed things out in the ninth to seal the win.
Freeman led the way for the Braves with three hits and a walk. Swanson and Riley finished with two hits each. Atlanta was 3-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left just two men on base.
With the win, the Braves take the series and climb back to the .500 mark for the season at 17-17. They will enjoy an off day on Monday before continuing their homestand on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
