Acuna homers to lead Braves past Phillies 5-2 in first of 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a two-run homer to put the Atlanta Braves ahead for good in a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday.

The Braves scored five runs in the decisive fifth inning, Starter Vince Velasquez left with a runner on base and Acuna went deep off Deolis Guerra (1-1) for a 2-1 lead.

The Phillies used four pitchers in the fifth and their beleaguered bullpen -- coming off a rare sharp outing in a combined shutout in the series opener -- was rocked again. Adam Duvall hit a three-run double just below the 334-foot sign in left off Adam Morgan for a 5-1 lead and send the Braves on their way to the seven-inning victory.

Tyler Matzek (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win nd Mark Melancon worked a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Acuna's shot into left was greeted with an enthusiastic “Thatta boy!” out of the Braves dugout that could have been heard in the empty cheap seats.

Braves starter Huascar Ynoa went just 2 1/3 innings and the Braves used five relievers with one more game yet to play. Braves lefty Will Smith got out of the biggest jam when he retired Didi Gregorius on a pop up with two runners on to end the fifth inning.

GAME 2

Atlanta lefty Max Fried (2-0, 2.04 ERA) takes the mound against Spencer Howard in his big league debut. The 24-year-old Howard, a second-round pick in the 2017 draft, is widely considered the Phillies’ top pitching prospect since Aaron Nola or even Cole Hamels.

LET’S PLAY TWO! AND TWO MORE!

The Phillies are playing seven doubleheaders in 45 days for the first time since 1978.

I MUST BE IN THE FRONT ROW!

The Phillies placed a Bob Uecker cutout up in the Uecker Seats -- the last row of Citizens Bank Park, to be exact. Uecker played parts of two...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Acuna-homers-to-lead-Braves-past-Phillies-5-2-in-15470748.php