GAME RECAP: Braves Beat Phillies 7-2
The Braves snapped a 12-game losing streak Monday night with a 7-2
victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Williams Perez completed seven innings of two-run
ball, backed in part by Freddie Freeman's 16th
homer of the season and a four-RBI night from Hector Olivera. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez did not
hesitate when pitching coach Roger McDowell asked him if he wanted to use
closer Arodys Vizcaino to
protect a five-run, ninth-inning lead. "I said, 'Vizcaino is in the game
no matter what,'" a relieved Gonzalez told reporters. "Because with a
[12-game] losing streak, it is a save situation." Freeman got things going
with a two-run home run in the first inning against Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang. The second of Jace Peterson's three singles helped the Braves score
three more runs against Harang in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. The Braves and
Phillies entered the series with the two worst records in baseball, giving the
series 2016 Draft pick implications. The Braves (55-83) had lost 19 of their
last 20, and improved to 7-7 against the Phillies (53-85) this season. "That
was a disappointing start to the homestand," Phillies interim manager Pete
Mackanin said. "We caught a team that's down, and we couldn't do a whole
lot."
OTHER
NOTES FROM THE DAY:
- The Phillies had very little going
Monday, but right fielder Aaron Altherr
continues to warrant a longer look in the outfield. He tripled in the
first inning and scored a run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. He
then made a nice running catch at the wall in the eighth inning, which he
turned into an inning-ending double play when he threw to first to double
up Andrelton Simmons.
"He's a nice-looking young player," Mackanin said. "We're
going to find out the rest of the month how he does at this level. I have
no reason to believe he won't succeed at this level. I'm anxious to see
him play a little bit more."
- Harang has been unable to regain the form that helped him to
a 2.02 ERA in 11 starts through May 30. He is 1-10 with a 7.79 ERA in 14
starts since then, which includes Monday's start. He allowed eight hits,
five runs, three walks, one home run and struck out six in just five
innings against the Braves. "They came out swinging, that's the
thing," Harang said. "They know what I'm going to do. They know
I'm going to go out and throw strikes."
- "It's really different. It
really makes a difference. Let's put it this way, it's more fun. It's more
fun when you win. You win, you pack the house. We've got to just keep
moving forward." -- Mackanin, on the announced attendance of
15,125. It was a record-low at Citizens Bank Park.
- Phillies pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic
hit a homer in the fifth. It was his first big league plate appearance
since Sept. 29, 2013, when he played for the Cubs.
- Phillies
first baseman Ryan Howard entered this series with 50 career home runs
against the Braves. Mets third baseman David Wright (34) is the only other
active player who has collected at least 25 homers against Atlanta.
- This
series could go have a significant influence on who has the top pick in
the 2015 First-Year Player Draft. The Braves and Phillies entered this
series with Major League Baseball's two worst records.
- Braves center fielder Cameron Maybin has missed the past two games because of a left cornea abrasion. His status for Tuesday's game is questionable.
NEXT
GAME:
As the Phillies have
distanced themselves from their first-half memories with the encouraging
success they have had since the All-Star break, they have gained even more
reason to believe they were wise to select Aaron Nola with the seventh overall
selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Before surrendering six earned
runs in just four innings against the Mets on Wednesday, Nola had produced a
3.26 ERA through his first eight career starts. The 22-year-old right-hander
surrendered just five hits and one earned run while totaling 15 innings over
the final two starts he made in August. Nola will have an opportunity to get
back on track when he takes the mound for Tuesday night's game against the
Braves at Citizens Bank Park. He limited Atlanta to two runs over five innings
on Aug. 2. Ryan Weber will be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to make the
start for the Braves. The 25-year-old right-hander will be making his big
league debut after going 6-3 with a 2.21 ERA in 27 games, six starts, for
Gwinnett this season.
PHILS PHACTS:
Rookie Earns Playing Time – The Phillies unexpectedly created some room in their
outfield in the past week, when Domonic Brown suffered a concussion and Cody Asche returned to third base with Maikel Franco sidelined with a broken left wrist. It
has left more playing time for Aaron Altherr. It has been well-deserved. Altherr had
another solid game in Monday night's 7-2
loss to the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. He
tripled to right field in the first inning. He hit a sacrifice fly to right in
the third to score the Phillies' first run. He then got hit by a pitch in the
sixth. Altherr is hitting .259 (15-for-58) with five doubles, two triples, two
home runs, 10 RBIs and an .835 OPS in 17 games. "The more games you play,
the more days you're up here, the more you're comfortable," Altherr said.
"I'm definitely having a good time being around all these guys. I just
hope I can continue to keep playing well." Altherr has played solid
defense, too. He made a great leaping catch at the right-field wall in the
eighth inning on a ball hit by Michael Bourn. Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons had rounded second base when
Altherr made the catch, and Altherr threw the ball to Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who stepped on the bag to complete the
inning-ending double play. "The ones hit right at you are the toughest
ones, just because of depth perception," Altherr said. "You don't
really know how far it's going to travel. I got to the point where I had to
make up my mind. I could have turned around if I made up my mind earlier, but I
just tried to stick with it and run it down." It is impossible to say
exactly how the Phillies' outfield might look on Opening Day next season, but
Altherr should be a favorite to make the roster. Brown's time with the Phillies
could be up, which would open up a spot. Odubel Herrera certainly will be back after a strong
rookie season. Asche could get another shot in left field. Jeff Francoeur could be re-signed. If not, the
Phillies probably will look for another veteran to sign to stabilize the
outfield. "You've got to like the way he plays defense," Phillies
interim manager Pete Mackanin said about Altherr. "That was one hell of a
catch. He hit the ball hard two or three times today. He gives you a good
approach at the plate. And you certainly like his athleticism. He's a
nice-looking young player. We're going to find out the rest of the month how he
does at this level. I have no reason to believe he won't succeed at this level.
I'm anxious to see him play a little bit more."
Welcome Back To The Majors – The Phillies plan to move to a six-man rotation in the near
future, which is why they have not announced a starter for Wednesday night's
series finale against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The smart bet is
right-hander David Buchanan, whom the Phillies recalled from Triple-A Lehigh
Valley on Monday. It might make more sense to give Buchanan a look over the
remainder of the season, considering he is expected to remain in the
organization next year. Right-hander Jerome Williams is an option for Wednesday, but he
can become a free agent and is unlikely to return. The Phillies on Monday also
announced they recalled right-handed reliever Nefi Ogando and left-hander Ken
Roberts. Both will help an overworked bullpen.
Focusing On 2016 – Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown slipped on sunglasses, grabbed a
shoebox from his locker and headed out the door Monday afternoon at Citizens
Bank Park. Brown is still recovering from a concussion suffered last week
attempting to make a catch in New York. He said his headaches are gone, but his
eyes remain sensitive to light. He will be tested later this week, but he
acknowledged Monday the possibility his 2015 season might be finished. His
Phillies career might be finished, too. "I don't worry about that,"
Brown told MLB.com. "No, not at all. I hope I'm here, I'll tell you that.
It's a family for me here. I know everybody. The guys have been great to me.
There have been a couple tough times, but that's growing pains. They've always
been honest. I respect everybody. I'm comfortable. Why wouldn't you want to be
here, you know? "A lot of people ask me if it would be better with a
change of scenery. I don't know, really. But I don't see why I can't do good
here. I don't mind coming in and competing for a job again. I do it every year
anyway. What's wrong with that?" Brown has hit .228 (43-for-189) with six
doubles, one triple, five home runs, 25 RBIs and a .634 OPS in 63 games this
season. Since he represented the Phillies in the 2013 All-Star Game, he has
posted a .650 OPS, which ranks 112th out of 126 qualified outfielders in
baseball. Combine Brown's numbers since the 2013 All-Star break, the fact that
he is eligible for salary arbitration a second time and the fact that the
Phillies might want to give a longer look next season to outfielders Aaron Altherr, Odubel Herrera, Cody Asche, Darnell Sweeney and others, and there is a strong
possibility Brown is non-tendered and plays elsewhere next season. If only
Brown had shown more flashes of his 2013 success. "I can do that at any
time," he said. "I just think I need to play every day. That's up to
me. Go out and play well. It's a different philosophy here with how they handle
things, but that's all I know. Other teams might leave guys out there, but here
you've got to perform. I understand that."
Awaiting Final Draft Position – The Phillies have heard a comment or two in the past couple
months about their record and their prospects at the No. 1 pick in the 2016
Draft, but they bristle at the notion that they are gunning for it. But the
topic seemed relevant before Monday night's series opener against the Braves at
Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies and Braves entered the series with the two
worst records in baseball. The Phillies were 53-84 and the Braves were 54-83,
making this series one with 2016 Draft implications. Phillies general manager
Ruben Amaro Jr. said he has no mixed feelings about the team playing well and
winning in its final 25 games vs. getting the top pick and knowing they will
pick the player that they love the most. "What we're trying to do is just
continue to assess what we have with our players and giving them a chance to
play," Amaro said. "Hopefully, they're learning from the experience.
That's the most important thing for us on the field right now. We'll deal with
the Draft when the Draft comes. When we find out what happens at the end of the
year, then we'll deal with it." The difference between the No. 1 pick and
the No. 2 pick (or No. 3 or No. 4) might not matter much anyway. The common
consensus is that there is no unanimous top pick. There is no Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg. "There is some pretty good
pitching up top," Amaro said. "I think we're going to be pitching
intensive. Obviously, we always try to take the best player, but I think our
mindset is probably pitching." Many consider the top two high school
pitchers to be IMG Academy (Lakeland, Fla.) left-hander Jason Groome and St.
Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) right-hander Riley Pint. The top two
college pitchers might be Florida left-hander A.J. Puk and Oklahoma
right-hander Alec Hansen.
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last
place in the NL East with a record of 53-85. Given the departures, aging stars,
injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up
being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope
for this year! All time, the Phillies are 62-50-0 on this day.
No comments:
Post a Comment