PHILADELPHIA — Atlanta used the long ball in a big way as Freddie Freeman, Abraham Almonte, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Joc Peterson all homered to lead the Braves past the Phillies in a 15-3 rout on Saturday night.
The win allowed the Braves to move back into a tie for second place in the National League East with Philadelphia with identical 48-49 records. It is the fourth time this year that the Braves have hit five or more homers in a game
Almonte had three hits with three RBIs as the Braves chased Phillies starter Vince Velasquez after just 2 1/3 innings and six earned runs. In four July starts, Velasquez (3-5) has allowed 19 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings (10.91 ERA).
In the first, Freeman crushed a Velasquez fastball off the façade of the second deck in right field for a two-run homer. Freeman, the defending National League MVP, has overcome a slow start to get Atlanta back in the NL East race. Since June 23, Freeman has a .442 batting average with seven homers, 22 runs scored and 18 RBIs.
Almonte golfed a hanging inside slider deep into the bleachers in right center for a solo homer in the second for a 3-0 lead. In the third, Freeman scored on Dansby Swanson’s double that chased Velasquez after just 2 1/3 innings and six runs allowed.
Two hitters later, Almonte singled off reliever Brandon Kintzler to score Austin Riley and Swanson for a 6-0 Braves lead.
Albies hit a three-run homer off Phillies reliever Enyel De Los Santos in the eighth. Two hitters later, Riley crushed a two-run shot off a 68 mph pitch by position player Ronald Torreyes that landed in the second deck restaurant in left-center. Peterson hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Torreyes.
The Phillies’ best chance to get back in the game was squandered in the fourth. Atlanta starter Drew Smyly walked the bases loaded with nobody out but forced Didi Gregorius to ground back to the mound into a 1-2-3 double play and pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski then flied out to left.
Philadelphia has lost four of its last five games and is hitting just .102 (5 for 49) with runners in scoring position during that stretch after an 0-for-10 performance on Saturday.
Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 4 with a run scored for the Phillies.
TRADE TALK
In a meeting with reporters Saturday to announce the signing of first-round draft pick Andrew Painter, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated that the club is looking to make a move before next Friday’s trade deadline.
“We’re kind of open to anything, and I think it’s incumbent upon us to try to get better,” Dombrowski said. “I know we’ll be aggressive in making it happen. We have ownership support in trying to make things happen. But you never know if you can get a deal done or not. We’ll find out. There’s a lot of competition for players out there.”
The Phillies have multiple areas of need, with back of the rotation starting pitching and closer receiving the most attention. Philadelphia has not made the playoffs since 2011, the longest streak in the National League and second only to Seattle’s 19-season drought.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: OF Ender Inciarte was reinstated from the COVID-related injured list on Saturday and then designated for assignment. Inciarte was hitting .215 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 52 games this season. He has an $8.5 million salary in the final guaranteed year of a five year, $30.5 million contract.
Phillies: RHP Sam Coonrod had his injury rehab assignment paused as he experienced soreness in his right arm. Coonrod has been on the injured list since June 24 with right forearm tendinitis. It is expected that Coonrod will try once again next week to start the assignment again before making any other decision.
UP NEXT
The final game of the four-game series is Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Aaron Nola (6-6, 4.64 ERA) will start for the Phillies while the Braves will counter with RHP Touki Toussaint (1-0, 1.35).
