PHILADELPHIA — Thanks to a second look on replay, the Phillies were able to rally and avoid a sweep against the NL East champions.
Trea Turner took advantage of a tied game after a third out was overturned on replay, and Alec Bohm followed with a two-run single in the seventh inning to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.
“Getting some luck like that helped us regain momentum, and we got our guys going in the bullpen with a lead,” Bohm said. “and you start to feel the win coming.”
The win calmed some nerves among the disappointed sports fans in Philly after Atlanta convincingly won the first two games.
Atlanta was set for a three-game sweep until a replay review in the seventh inning overturned the call, denying the Braves a third out.
With a 3-2 lead behind a strong performance from Chris Sale in his Braves’ debut, reliever Aaron Bummer (0-1) appeared to have gotten Johan Rojas out with an inning-ending double play.
However, a second look revealed that Rojas was safe, and the call by first base umpire Clint Vondrak was overturned, igniting the approval from the third straight sellout crowd.
Kyle Schwarber, who started the game with a leadoff homer, singled to put two runners on base. Turner — who also stole his 36th straight base — hit the tying single to right field, and Bohm followed with a two-RBI single that diving left fielder Adam Duvall couldn't catch, giving the Phillies a 5-3 lead.
“Rojas beating the ball out was the biggest part of the game, really,” manager Rob Thomson said.
Gregory Soto’s first pitch in the eighth retired Matt Olson on a flyout, leaving the tying run on third after the Braves closed within a run.
José Alvarado, who allowed five runs and took the loss on opening day, worked the ninth inning for the save.
Ranger Suárez and five relievers limited the Braves to just seven hits after they accumulated 32 hits, 10 doubles and 14 extra-base hits in the first two games. Matt Strahm (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the win.
The fortunate circumstances that led to the Phillies’ first win were enough to make them breathe a sigh of relief. The news that Bryce Harper was seemingly fine a day after a hard fall over a railing in foul territory also helped. Harper did get the day off against a tough lefty in Sale.
“I thought we put together pretty good at-bats all day long,” Harper said. “Good win.”
Sale allowed two runs, five hits, and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings in his first start since an offseason trade with Boston. If he can stay healthy, Sale should prove to be a strong addition to Atlanta’s rotation.
Atlanta took a risk on the lefty given Sale’s injury-filled career. He has only made 31 starts over the last four seasons in Boston, including 20 last season when he went 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA in 102 2/3 innings.
Sale, who signed a $38 million, two-year deal after arriving in Atlanta, joined a rotation that includes 2023 All-Stars Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder, longtime ace Max Fried, and 40-year-old Charlie Morton.
Sale impressed in the fifth inning after allowing only one run to score despite loading the bases with no outs. He got Schwarber out on a double play and struck out Turner to end the threat and help Atlanta maintain a 3-2 lead.
“I am grateful for my current situation and the people I am doing it with,” Sale said. “Let’s continue this positive momentum.”
One game after the Braves hit four home runs, Ozzie Albies hit a two-run home run in the first inning to take an early lead. Adam Duvall added an RBI double in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 3-1.
“There are a lot of the top players in our game on the field,” Bohm said. “They clearly outperformed us in the first two games, and we aimed to win one today.”
UP NEXT
Atlanta is continuing its opening trip with three games in Chicago against the White Sox. The Braves will have RHP Charlie Morton (14-12, 3.64 ERA in 2023) pitching against RHP Chris Flexen (2-8, 6.86) on Monday.
The Phillies will host the Reds for three games starting Monday. The Phillies will have LHP Cristopher Sánchez (3-5, 3.44) pitching against LHP Andrew Abbott (8-6, 3.87).
