OOTP 6/5: Braves 13, Phillies 12 (14 innings)

This game was one of the classics. It had everything you could want. Back and forth, non stop scoring, a team coming from way back only to lose the lead again. The Phillies scored in extra innings twice....and lost the lead twice. It was a great one.

This game started off with a bang with the Phillies opening the scoring against Cole Hamels in the first inning. Jean Segura and Bryce Harper drew one out walks each, then Segura was driven in by a J.T. Realmuto single, giving the Phillies the lead. The Braves though struck back.

And quickly.

Cole Irvin got Ozzie Albies on a groundout for the first out (the start of a long night for Albies) before the onslaught began. Ronald Acuna singled, then scored on a home run from Freddie Freeman. Marcell Ozuna grounded out as well, then a single from Johan Camargo and a double from Travis d’Araud plated another. On the play, d’Arnaud pulled up lame and was replaced by Dansby Swanson, something that would affect the very next play as Adeiny Hechavarria singled Swanson home on a ball d’Arnaud probably wouldn’t have beaten. When the dust cleared, it was 4-1, Atlanta.

The Braves struck again in the second when Hamels doubled, went to third on an Albies ground ball, then scored on an Acuna single. Irvin would pitch the third inning, but nothing after that, finished after only being able to get nine outs.

In the fourth, the Phillies had Andrew McCutchen lead off with a single, followed by a Rhys Hoskins walk. Logan Forsythe doubled, scoring Cutch and sending Hoskins to third with nobody out. Adam Haseley, batting for Irvin, hit a fly ball to left, but it wasn’t deep enough to score Hoskins and the first out was recorded. Roman Quinn grounded to the shortstop, allowing Hoskins to score but getting the second out. Segura singled home Forsythe and suddenly the Phillies were within one.

The Braves got another in the fifth when Ozuna homered off of reliever Ranger Suarez and the score stood 6-4, Braves. In the sixth, the Braves got three more when the Braves loaded the bases off of Adam Morgan with no one out. Victor Arano would relieve and get the first two outs on strike outs, but a bases clearing double by Phillies nemesis Freddie Freeman pushed the score to 9-4.

The seventh, though, was the Phillies’ time to strike. Segura doubled, Harper walked, and Realmuto hit an infield single to load the bases, driving reliever Chad Sobotka from the mound and ushering in AJ Minter. Minter proceeded to walk Kingery, McCutchen and Hoskins consecutively, forcing in three runs and sending Minter to the showers. The bases were still loaded for Jay Bruce when Mark Melancon entered, getting him to ground out and forcing Kingery at home. Josh Harrison doubled, scoring all three runners for the Phillies. When Melancon finally got the next two outs, the Phillies had taken the lead, 10-9.

Seranthony Dominguez entered to lock it down. He gave up a leadoff single to Camargo, then struck out the next three batters. After the Phillies went down in order in the eighth, Dominguez came back out and struck out the first two batters, but had to leave the game after grabbing his elbow. Tony Cingrani entered and promptly gave up the tying home run to Ronald Acuna and the score was tied at 10.

It stayed that way into the 13th inning when the Phillies got a leadoff walk to Segura to start the inning. Harper hit a ball back to the pitcher that seemed tailor made for a double play, but Harper beat out the return throw to first. Realmuto walked, then both stole third and second bases respectively on the next pitch. Kingery feebly struck out for the second out, but Shane Greene struggled with control, walking the next two Phillies and plating the lead run.

In the bottom of the inning, Tommy Hunter, the last pitcher left, got the first out of the 13th, but Rafael Ortega - RAFAEL ORTEGA! - homered to tie the game. In the 14th, Harrison walked to lead off another inning, then went to third on a Segura double. Harper was intentionall walked to load the bases, then Realmuto was unintentionally walked to plate the lead run yet again.

And yet again, Hunter couldn’t hold the lead. The Braves loaded the bases with no one out and Tyler Flowers came up. He hadn’t been having a good season thus far and wanted a bit of redemption.

He got it.

Singling to centerfield, Flowers sent the weary fans in Atlanta into delirium, winning a hard fought, entertaining game.

After the game, Tony Cingrani was designated for assignment and Robert Stock was recalled from Lehigh Valley to bring in a fresh arm.

The two teams will lock horns again tomorrow.