MLB: Atlanta Braves go for five-straight but falter against the Phillies
Atlanta, Georgia - The Braves took on the Phillies, winners of four-straight and hoping to take control of the division, on Sunday night.
The Braves caught on to their winning ways after dropping their first four games of the season. Heading into the final game of their weekend series against the division-rival Phillies, Atlanta was looking to make it a sweep by night's end.
The Phillies had other ideas and out-homered the Braves to edge out a 7-6 win.
The game itself was a push-and-pull affair, with a few lead changes throughout. Both teams had three players each going yard in Sunday night's contest.
For the Braves, 2B Ozzie Albies (24) got his team out in front first with a two-run homer in the first, his only hit of the game. The reigning NL MVP Freddie Freeman hit a solo shot in the fourth, cutting Philly's lead to 5-4, at that point. And Ronald Acuna, Jr. also sent a solo homer out in the seventh, to tie the game at 6-6.
The Phillies got a big boost from Didi Gregorious, who hit a three-run homer in the fourth, and also a sacrifice fly in ninth that drove home the winning run for Philadelphia.
Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins also helped Philly's winning cause with solo home runs each.
The Phillies remain at the top of the NL East as they head up to New York to face the Mets on Monday. The Braves will head south to Miami for a series with the Marlins, also on Monday.
Around The League
There was a full slate of games today, throughout Major League Baseball.
The Red Sox and Orioles scored a flurry of runs in Boston as the Sox beat Baltimore 14-9. Boston's J.D. Martinez hit three homers to help the Red Sox get the big win.
The Pirates make it two wins in a row, beating the Cubs 7-1.
The Indians held off the Tigers in Cleveland 5-2.
Meanwhile, the Yankees and Rays needed extra innings, but it was New York pulling away with 4 runs in the 10th to beat Tampa 8-4.
Over in Chicago, the Royals ended up winning in extra innings against the White Sox 4-3, while the Mariners beat the Twins 8-6 in Minneapolis.
The Brewers beat the Cardinals again 9-3. And the Padres got another shutout against the Texas Rangers 2-0.
The Giants shutout the Rockies 4-0, completing the weekend sweep in Colorado. The Diamondbacks got a shutout as well against the Reds 7-0.
In Los Angeles, the Dodgers swept the Nationals, shutting them out 3-0 for the second time in three games.
The Angels and Blue Jays were rained out down in Florida, and the Marlins –Mets game in New York was also suspended due to rain.
On Monday, the Red Sox try to stay hot against the Twins, while the Yankees look to build a winning streak against the Blue Jays.
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire