Final: Braves 7, Phillies 2
WP: Williams Perez (5-6, 5.42 ERA) LP: Aaron Harang (5-15, 5.02 ERA)
Philadelphia, PA – Snapping their longest franchise losing skid since 1977, 12, the Atlanta Braves
(55-83) bested the Philadelphia Phillies (53-85) on Labor Day in the series opener of a three-game set.
According to Phillies' beat writer for MLB.com, Todd Zolecki, a record-low crowd of 15,125 was in attendance at Citizens Bank Park tonight. This was the lowest mark in franchise history since 2003
when 13,444 attended a late-April, Wednesday matinee at Veterans Stadium.
Tonight's Braves starter, rookie RHP Williams Perez, earned his first victory since June 20 by throwing seven innings of two-run baseball.
Making his debut in red pinstripes, Brian Bogusevic went yard for his first big-league home run since September 19, 2013 in opposition of RHP Donovan Hand and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Bogusevic's contract was purchased from the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Friday.
Over 36 at-bats down in Clearwater this spring training, the veteran hit two doubles, three home runs and eight runs-batted-in before being reassigned to minor league camp on April 1.
Tonight's victory for Atlanta also snapped their 12-game road losing streak, in addition to ending their overall skid of the same length. Their last victory away from Turner Field occurred 36 days ago, August 1 against RHP Aaron Nola and the Phillies.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Braves | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 0 |
| Phillies | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Atlanta got out to an early 2-0 in the top of the first.
Two batters after right fielder Nick Markakis doubled to begin the game, his 32nd of the season, first baseman Freddie Freeman went yard for the sixth time of his career at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies had a runner on third base with two outs in each of the first two innings, but failed to come up with the clutch hit to drive them home.
Philadelphia had a runner reach third base in the bottom of the third inning as well, but this time came through.
Second baseman Cesar Hernandez doubled to lead-off the inning, his second hit of the night and the 10th out of his last 27 at-bats. Following a groundout to second base by center fielder Odubel Herrera, advancing Hernandez to third, right fielder Aaron Altherr hit a sacrifice-fly RBI for the Phillies' first run of the night.
In the next half-inning, the Braves got the run they allowed right back plus two more to take a 5-0 lead.
Following a single by second baseman Jace Peterson, shortstop Andrelton Simmons doubled him home for his 35th run-batted-in of the season.
Later in the inning with two outs, right fielder Nick Markakis was intentionally walked to put two runners on for rookie third baseman Hector Olivera.
Olivera, 30, native made Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Harang, lacing his first career double to deep center field to clear the bases.
The Cuban native was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30 in the massive, 13-player trade that also included the Miami Marlins.
Harang's night was complete after five innings. The 14-year veteran surrendered five runs on eight hits and three walks to raise his season earned run average to 5.02.
Making his Phillies debut as a pinch-hitter for Harang in the bottom of the fifth, Brian Bogusevic homered to right field. This was his first plate appearance and home run each since September 2013 as a member of the Chicago Cubs.
Bogusevic, 31, hit .296/.359/.424 with 12 home runs and 57 runs-batted-in over 118 games and 515 plate appearances this season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
RHP Hector Neris threw two perfect innings in relief on Harang on just 17 pitches, 11 of which were strikes. The 26-year-old reliever has not allowed a base runner over three appearances and 3 1/3 innings in the month of September.
Facing rookie Colton Murray in the top of the ninth, Olivera hit another career-first tonight, a home run, to increase the Braves' lead to 7-2.
Starting Pitchers
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Perez | 7.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 5.42 |
| Aaron Harang | 5.0 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 5.02 |
- Perez: W; 100 pitches, 65 strikes; 9 groundouts, 3 flyouts; 27 faced batters
- Harang: L; 93 pitches, 51 strikes; 1 groundout, 1 flyout; 26 faced batters
Out of the 'Pen
Braves
- Matt Marksberry (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 6.00 ERA
- Arodys Vizcaino (9th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 0.77 ERA
Phillies
- Hector Neris (6th, 7th): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 4.06 ERA
- Jeanmar Gomez (8th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 2.93 ERA
- Colton Murray (9th): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 1 HR, 9.00 ERA
At the Plate
Braves
- Nick Markakis: 2-3, 2-3, 3 R, 2 2B, 2 BB, .297 AVG
- Hector Olivera: 2-5, R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, .200 AVG
- Andrelton Simmons: 3-4, R, 2B, RBI, .258 AVG
Phillies
- Cesar Hernandez: 2-4, R, 2B, .271 AVG
- Aaron Altherr: 1-2, 3B, RBI, .259 AVG
- Brian Bogusevic: 1-1, R, HR, RBI, 1.000 AVG
What's Next:
- Tuesday, September 8, 2015: vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:05 pm
- RHP Ryan Weber (MLB debut) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (5-2, 4.02 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Wednesday, September 9, 2015: vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:05 pm
- RHP Julio Teheran (9-7, 4.51 ERA) vs. TBA
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
