Phillies at Braves
Brian McCann grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, began his career catching for the Braves for nine seasons, and returned home last winter to help the franchise in its return to prominence. McCann and the Braves enter Saturday’s middle contest against the Philadelphia Phillies looking to wrap up a series victory after he lifted a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth Friday, locking up a 9-8 triumph that extended Atlanta’s lead over the Phillies in the NL East to 2 1/2 games.
The Braves, who have won 23 of their past 32 games, chased the series opener all night in the first matchup between the two teams in 75 days – a three-game Philadelphia sweep at the end of March – but rallied from deficits of 6-2 and 8-4 to win for the fourth time this season when trailing after eight innings. McCann finished with three hits and three RBIs to reach 1,000 RBIs for his career while first baseman Freddie Freeman hit his 19th homer of the season to give him 20 homers and 88 RBIs in 150 career games against the Phillies. Philadelphia fell for the ninth time in its past 14 games, wasting a three-homer performance by allowing seven runs in the final three innings. Center fielder Scott Kingery went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the opener, finishing a triple shy of the cycle to give him seven hits in 15 at-bats across his past four games.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (1-0, 2.59)
Nola recovered from a sluggish April in which he posted a 5.68 ERA to excel in May, going 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in six starts while averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings and giving up 31 hits in 33 innings. The 26-year-old lost his first start of June, allowing six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings June 3 at San Diego, but rebounded to hold Cincinnati to three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings Sunday. Nola, who owns a 6.75 ERA in five road starts, opened his season by beating the Braves on March 28 despite a career-high five walks, giving up one run on two hits with eight strikeouts.
Newcomb returns to the rotation to take over for the injured Kevin Gausman (right plantar fasciitis), and he may not be there long as newly signed Dallas Keuchel could join Atlanta next weekend at Washington. The 26-year-old Newcomb walked eight hitters while posting a 4.38 ERA in three starts before being demoted to the minors, but has been a revelation since returning as a reliever, walking only two with 21 strikeouts and a 1.42 ERA in 19 innings across 16 outings. Newcomb replaced Gausman on Monday against Pittsburgh and earned the win, allowing one hit with no walks and six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
WALKOFFS
1. Philadelphia RH Seranthony Dominguez received a platelet-rich plasma treatment to avoid season-ending elbow surgery, setting up a possible return in September.
2. Braves 2B Ozzie Albies finished 2-for-4 in the series opener, extending his hitting streak to six games and giving him a .400 average in that span.
3. Phillies RF Bryce Harper lined a two-run homer in the third inning, giving him 28 homers in 116 career games against the Braves.