04/24/26 09:00:00
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04/24 20:58 CDT Harris delivers as a pinch-hitter for the Braves, leading 5-3
win over slumping Phillies
Harris delivers as a pinch-hitter for the Braves, leading 5-3 win over slumping
Phillies
By PAUL NEWBERRY
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) --- Michael Harris II delivered a two-run double as a pinch-hitter
after being scratched from the starting lineup with an ailing quad, and the
Atlanta Braves piled more misery on Philadelphia with a 5-3 victory Friday
night that sent the Phillies to their 10th straight loss.
Despite homers from Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, the two-time reigning NL East
champion Phillies dropped 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Braves with the
season not even a month old. Atlanta has won nine of 10 for the best record in
the majors (19-8).
Ronald Acua Jr. hit a two-run homer for the Braves, but it was Harris who
delivered the biggest hit on a night when it appeared he wouldn't play at all.
Harris was a late scratch from the lineup as a precautionary measure after
tightness in his left quad forced him to leave the previous day's victory over
Washington.
But when the Braves, trailing 3-2, put two runners aboard with two outs in the
sixth against Andrew Painter (1-1), the call went to Harris as a pinch-hitter
for Eli White.
After getting ahead 2-0 in the count, Harris pounced on a 96 mph fastball. The
ball cleared leaping left fielder Brandon Marsh while Dominic Smith and
Mauricio Dubn raced around the bases with the tying and go-ahead runs.
Harris showed no pain at all as he chugged into second base, but he was
immediately replaced by pinch-runner Jorge Mateo, who gave the Braves an
insurance run by stealing third and coming home on a wild pitch by Painter.
Grant Holmes (2-1) surrendered a two-run homer to Turner in the third inning
and a solo shot by Harper leading off the fifth. But he lasted six innings to
pick up the win, avoiding further trouble by striking out Kyle Schwarber with
the bases loaded to end the fourth.
Robert Suarez earned his third save as a fill-in for injured Atlanta closer
Raisel Iglesias, retiring Marsh on a weak grounder to end the game with runners
at second and third.
Painter gave up nine hits and all five Braves runs over 5 2-3 innings.
Up next
RHP Zack Wheeler finally makes his season debut for the Phillies on Saturday
after coming back from thoracic outlet surgery. The Braves will counter with
RHP Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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