Marcell Ozuna hit a home run and Reynaldo López threw five strong innings in his return from the injured list, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
In the opener of a crucial three-game series, the six-time reigning division champions pulled within six games of Philadelphia. The rivals will meet six more times in the next 12 games, a series that gives the depleted Braves a chance to close the gap even further.
Ozuna and Lopez gave Atlanta a huge boost after the team learned a day earlier that third baseman Austin Riley will miss the remainder of the regular season with a broken hand.
It was the latest in a string of injuries that have jeopardized the division’s winning streak and left the Braves stuck in the final wild-card spot in the NL.
Ozuna broke the 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with his 37th home run of the season, hitting a 430-foot drive over the center field wall off Zack Wheeler (12-6), who missed a chance to earn his 100th career victory against his hometown club.
After hitting a 95-mph ball, Ozuna dropped his bat and stood frozen at home plate, admiring his huge swing as it disappeared into the bushes behind the wall.
Lopez made his first start since July 28, when the All-Star pitcher lasted just three innings against the New York Mets before retiring with a right forearm muscle injury.
After spending some time on the injured list, López continued his stellar season with 10 strikeouts, his first game with double-digit strikeouts since 2019, when he played for the Chicago White Sox.
Grant Holmes (2-0) earned the win with two perfect innings after taking over for López. Raisel Iglesias recorded the ninth inning for his 27th save in 29 chances.
Michael Harris II gave the Braves the lead in the third inning with a run-scoring single after former Phillies infielder Whit Merrifield led off the bat with a triple.
The Phillies tied the score in the fourth inning by scoring three hits against Lopez, including JT Realmuto’s RBI single.
Atlanta’s lineup featured three players who were cut by other teams this season, including new third baseman Gio Urshela, who took a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning to extend the Braves’ lead just two days after being cut by the Detroit Tigers.
Truist Park’s center field was littered with ugly square blotches, leftover from where the stage had been set up for a weekend concert by country star Luke Bryan.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: OF Austin Hay (left hamstring injury) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Barring any setbacks, he could rejoin the team for this weekend’s series at Kansas City. … LHP Ranger Suarez (lower back pain) is expected to return to the rotation on Saturday against the Royals.
Braves: OF Jorge Soler (left hamstring strain) was expected to miss his fifth consecutive game, but he entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, was walked by José Alvarado and was quickly replaced by pinch-runner Adam Duvall.
NEXT
RH Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45 ERA) takes the mound for the Phillies on Wednesday, facing Braves LH Max Fried (7-7, 3.62 ERA). The Atlanta starter has struggled in his two appearances against Philadelphia this season, allowing eight earned runs on 13 hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings.
