Twelve hitters in one inning
The fourth inning blew the game wide open. Atlanta sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs. The rest was just padding for the final line: a 12-2 rout of Philadelphia on Friday night, with the three-game series already wrapped up.
Ronald Acuna Jr sparked the surge with a solo homer, his 17th of the season, off Brooks Raley, who took the loss. Mauricio Dubon followed with a two-run single. An errant throw by third baseman Bryson Stott gifted another run before Drake Baldwin doubled and Acuna added another single to put it to bed.
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Harris and Acuna put on a show
Michael Harris II finished 4-for-5 with a three-run homer, his 25th of the year, and scored twice. Acuna was even better at the plate: 3-for-3, a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs.
On the mound, Tyler Mahle (6-10) matched his season high by working seven innings. One run allowed, six hits, three strikeouts. Since arriving in Atlanta, the right-hander has posted a 1.25 ERA across seven starts. Not many pitchers are keeping that kind of pace this late in the season.
Philadelphia struck first, though. In the opening inning, Bryce Harper launched a 426-foot shot to center for his 28th homer of the year. It was the 391st of his career, with 48 of them coming against Atlanta. Justin Crawford added a solo homer in the eighth, but by then it was long over.
The National League East is slipping away
The Braves (88-61) now hold a six-game lead over Philadelphia (82-67), the two-time defending division champions. Their magic number is down to seven. Atlanta also leads the season series 9-3.
Philadelphia started Tim Mayza because Jesus Luzardo was scratched with shoulder soreness. The left-hander did his job: three scoreless innings, two hits, four strikeouts. The five relievers who followed were shelled for 11 hits, five walks and 12 runs, six earned. At this point, the Phillies’ bullpen is the real story of their run-in.
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