Battery Power - August 28: Phillies 7, Braves 4Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2020-08-28T23:45:00-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/211695302020-08-28T23:45:00-04:002020-08-28T23:45:00-04:00Braves walked off in extras, lose to Phillies 7-4
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<img alt="MLB: Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nh85mUgIc_nytTpGepHchtDkCXo=/0x0:5426x3617/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67312602/usa_today_14850805.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Braves fought back but couldn’t execute in extra innings.</p> <p id="nUPZpE">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> got another ugly outing from one of their starters, this time <span>Robbie Erlin</span>, but managed to fight back late in this contest. Atlanta tied the game in the seventh inning and kept the game tied into extra innings, which brought about all the weirdness that we have come to expect this season. Bad calls, stranded runners, and poor execution set the stage for <span>Scott Kingery</span> to blast a two-out, two-strike home run to give the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> the 7-4 victory.</p>
<p id="HZ3s2j">Placing faith in the left arm of <span>Robbie Erlin</span> once gain proved fruitless for the Braves as the veteran allowed four runs in four innings, including a pair of home runs. Luckily the Atlanta bullpen was well-rested and performed well to halt the Phillies offense until the 11th inning. <span>Shane Greene</span> was especially impressive as he worked the ninth and tenth innings, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam that seemed insurmountable in the tenth. Of course extra innings begin with an offensive rally already in motion this season, but <span>Greene</span> remained composed and even escaped a full count with two outs and the winning run on third for Philadelphia. </p>
<p id="Rs7fVh">The Braves’ luck ran out in the 11th inning unfortunately, as <span>Mark Melancon</span> was tagged for a walk-off homer by <span>Kingery</span>. The biggest bummer being that <span>Melancon</span> had gotten ahead of <span>Kingery</span> with an 0-2 count and two outs. He seemed destined to escape the jam, but made a mistake with a belt-high fastball to Kingery and paid for it. </p>
<p id="xKhVmH">The high points of the game for Atlanta came in the seventh inning, when <span>Ender Inciarte</span> shockingly blasted a home run to right field after replacing <span>Adam Duvall</span> to pull the Braves within a run. <span>Austin Riley</span> followed with another homer, giving Atlanta back-to-back homers and a tie game. Riley continues to gain confidence and nearly hit a second homer in the top of the 11th inning, though it died at the warning track in left center. Riley also made an incredible, game-saving play in the tenth inning to cut down the winning run at the plate.</p>
<p id="tEaHMc">For all the opportunities that eluded the Braves in extra innings, this game was certainly not boring. Braves fans got to experience some form of manic rage in the 11th inning as <span>Ender Inciarte</span> very clearly stole second base, but was called out both in real-time and after a review from the replay center. The strike zone was also an adventure all evening, but the Braves were not without opportunities despite the inabilities of the umpiring crew.</p>
<p id="mR5rIt">The Braves will aim to even the series on Saturday, but this game will certainly be a source of frustration for the coaches and players. Runners left on base, especially third base with less than two outs, continue to be an issue at inopportune times. Having the go-ahead run 90 feet away with a chance to take the lead will hurt but the Braves have been playing well of late and can certainly turn the series around. Atlanta will turn to <span>Josh Tomlin</span> for game two on Saturday.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2020/8/28/21406413/braves-walked-off-in-extras-lose-to-phillies-7-4-atlantaDillon Cloud2020-08-28T18:00:00-04:002020-08-28T18:00:00-04:00Game Thread: 8/28 Braves vs. Phillies
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<img alt="MLB: Game One-Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zhQTJxb0GRGo3wFeRPLZ-siUCeQ=/0x0:5189x3459/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67311553/usa_today_14719624.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Let’s go.</p> <p id="S0QZQl">Join us in the comments for discussion about game one in Philly. Exercise civility and be nice to the manager. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2020/8/28/21405855/game-thread-8-28-braves-vs-phillies-atlantaDillon Cloud2020-08-28T15:45:00-04:002020-08-28T15:45:00-04:00Swanson remains in second spot to begin Phillies series
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<img alt="MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/niJqiPP6i65LNCn1xoZS9bkSMtY=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67310892/usa_today_14806111.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Braves will run it back with the same lineup that beat the Yankees on Wednesday night.</p> <p id="D8EWAg">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> will replicate their lineup from Wednesday night, leaving Swanson in the two spot and d’Arnaud behind the plate. <span>Ender Inciarte</span> remains on the bench against yet another right-handed pitcher. The entire league will wear ‘42’ as MLB celebrates the life of Jackie Robinson, which is quite possibly the greatest tribute in all of sports.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today we honor <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jackie42?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jackie42</a> <a href="https://t.co/JpfCm4K9nX">pic.twitter.com/JpfCm4K9nX</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1299422542445318146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2020</a>
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<p id="lwJ4DP">The <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> will line up as follows:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Back home against the Braves. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RingTheBell?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RingTheBell</a> <br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSPhilly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBCSPhilly</a> <br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsRadioWIP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SportsRadioWIP</a><br> : <a href="https://t.co/7M7oNitezi">https://t.co/7M7oNitezi</a> // <a href="https://t.co/vgbMhIMsON">https://t.co/vgbMhIMsON</a> <a href="https://t.co/C6qkbcjq2E">pic.twitter.com/C6qkbcjq2E</a></p>— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) <a href="https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1299415271317397506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2020</a>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2020/8/28/21405854/swanson-remains-in-second-spot-to-begin-phillies-series-mlb-jackie-robinsonDillon Cloud2020-08-28T13:00:00-04:002020-08-28T13:00:00-04:00Braves head back to Philadelphia, look to continue recent success
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<img alt="Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W_Gtx1ubbxmCKPN55MmMagJUsHg=/0x0:3086x2057/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67309865/1228160751.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Braves had an excellent homestand, but will need a solid performance from Robbie Erlin to continue that success in Philadelphia.</p> <p id="ORvLXG">The series opener between the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> and <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> will feature a pitching matchup of absolute polar-opposite starters. You would be hard-pressed to find two pitchers in Major League Baseball with less commonality than a left-hander who barely tops 90 MPH with his fastball and a right-hander who sits in the upper 90’s. Despite their vast differences, Erlin is somehow a more effective strikeout pitcher, which should make for an interesting matchup on Friday.</p>
<p id="jEfwY3">The Braves hope that Erlin can establish himself as a member of the rotation going forward, but he will likely need better results to achieve that feat. He enters play with a 5.14 ERA, though his xERA is just 3.14, which indicates that Erlin has been wildly unlucky this season. His underlying metrics back up this notion despite a severely high barrel percentage, although the sample size can skew this figure very quickly. </p>
<p id="m0uzqc"><span>Zack Wheeler</span> is unlike Erlin, as noted above, but somehow is unable to record more than ~6 strikeouts per nine innings. Erlin has managed to post a number significantly higher, striking out 17 batters in 14 innings. This development is encouraging for the Braves and must be somewhat troubling for the Phillies. <span>Wheeler</span> has historically posted strikeout numbers right around one per inning, which seems more befitting of his arsenal, but the strikeouts have been absent in 2020. This could also be the result of a small sample size, and <span>Wheeler</span> has been very effective from an opponents batted ball perspective, but power stuff generally produces more flashy numbers. The Phillies still have to be pleased with their young hurler, as his ability to limit hard contact thus far has been among the best in baseball.</p>
<p id="2BHJxL">This matchup should be fun to follow as the Braves look to solve <span>Wheeler</span>, while Philadelphia will attempt to get this series off to a better start than the previous matchup with Atlanta. </p>
<h3 id="UPjCgK"><strong>Game Info</strong></h3>
<p id="aLE4o4">Game Date/Time: Tuesday, August 28, 7:10 p.m. EST</p>
<p id="ykMbx5">Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</p>
<p id="br4MaI">TV: FSSO, NBCSP</p>
<p id="ianckr">Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2020/8/28/21405148/braves-head-back-to-philadelphia-look-to-continue-recent-success-mlb-atlantaDillon Cloud