Braves can clinch NL East title today
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves moved to the brink of their first NL East title since 2013, bouncing back from Ronald Acuna Jr.’s defensive blunder with a five-run seventh inning that carried them past the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 Friday night.
Ozzie Albies sparked the comeback with a two-run home run, and Johan Camargo finished it off with a two-out, two-run single, giving the Braves a chance to celebrate as soon as this afternoon with one more victory over the second-place Phillies.
Acuna misjudged Wilson Ramos’ line drive to left field in the top half of the seventh, turning what should have been an out into a two-run double. Pinch-hitter Jose Bautista tacked on a run-scoring single, giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead.
It didn’t last long.
Tyler Flowers led off the bottom half with a single off Pat Neshek (3-2), and Albies followed with a drive into the rightfield seats for his 23rd homer of the season. Dansby Swanson walked, and Lucas Duda followed with a pinch-hit single before Neshek finally got an out — on a grounder that bounced off the third-base bag and was backhanded by Asdrubal Cabrera, who threw home to get Swanson trying to score.
That was only a brief respite for the Phillies. Luis Avilan took over for Neshek, only to give up a run-scoring double by Ender Inciarte into the right-field corner. With two outs and the bases loaded, Camargo came through on a 3-2 pitch by lining a two-run single to left to put the Braves ahead for the first time all night.
Acuna and Inciate celebrated at home plate, while Camargo pumped his fist emphatically at first, knowing he had pushed the Braves another step closer to the postseason. The Phillies dropped 7 1/2 games behind the Braves, while the Washington Nationals were eliminated from the division race.
After giving up a leadoff homer to Cesar Hernandez, Atlanta starter Julio Teheran turned in one of his best outings of an inconsistent season. He didn’t allow another hit until pinch-hitter J.P. Crawford started the sixth with a triple off the right-field wall.
Teheran escaped that jam by striking out Roman Quinn, getting Hernandez on a grounder to second and retiring Rhys Hoskins on a fly ball to right.
But the Braves’ defense let Teheran down in the seventh. With one out, Justin Bour walked and Carlos Santana singled before Ramos sent a liner to left field for what should have been the second out. Acuna completely misjudged the ball, realizing too late it was over his head.
After a futile leap, the rookie had to go all the way to the wall to retrieve it, and both runners raced home to break a 1-all tie.
Jonny Venters (4-0) earned the win by getting the final two outs in the seventh. A.J. Minter secured his 15th save this season despite giving up a run in the ninth.
The Braves are skipping left-handed starting pitcher Sean Newcomb’s spot in the rotation today, instead moving up right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (11-10, 2.90) to make today’s start against Phillies righty Jake Arrieta (10-9, 3.77).
Newcomb has a 7.44 ERA over his past seven starts, endangering his spot in the possible playoff rotation after he spent much of the season as one of Atlanta’s most effective pitchers.
Newcomb will be available out of the bullpen for the remainder of the weekend but could still make another start in the final week of the regular season, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.
On the injury front, the Braves will likely want former closer Arodys Vizcaino to pitch in back-to-back games before deciding whether he deserves a spot on a postseason roster.
Vizcaino has allowed three hits and two runs in three innings since returning from the disabled list a week ago, but he had his most impressive performance with a scoreless inning against the Phillies in the series opener Thursday.