OOTP 5/6: Phillies 4, Braves 3 (11 innings)

The Braves tried to change things up with their lineup and it looked like it might work, but in the end, the Phillies pulled out a big one, winning their sixth game in a row and grabbing ahold (for the time being) of the division lead.

The Braves were desperately trying to get something going today, bumping Ronald Acuna down in the order from his usual perch atop the lineup and it seemed like it worked for him. Tough his numbers weren’t poor, the team thought he could be giving them more power and that’s exactly what he did. His leadoff home run in the second tied the score at 1 after the Phillies put one on the board in the first used an RBI single from J.T. Realmuto to temporarily grab the lead. Atlanta would take the lead in the fourth when Acuna again went deep off of starter Spencer Howard, making the game 2-1.

It stayed that way into the bottom of the sixth when pinch hitter Neil Walker, batting for Howard who was only at 81 pitches, came through with a hit a two-out two RBI single that gave the Phillies the lead, 3-2. Tommy Hunter, though, was feeling generous and gave up the lead in the seventh behind several hits that seemed to find the holes that the Phillies couldn’t fill up.

The game stayed tied into the eleventh inning when Adam Haseley doubled to lead off the inning, went to third on an error, then scored on a game-ending hit by Didi Gregorius, sending the Citizens Bank Park crowd into a frenzy.

Adam Morgan got the win with two scoreless innings of relief, continuing a turnaround for the Phillies’ bullpen that has seen them turn in some good appearances since the shakeup that took place a week ago.

The Phillies are off tomorrow before they head out on the road to Pittsburgh to take on trade target Chris Archer.