ATLANTA (AP) – Sean Murphy made a strong return from a rib injury, launching a home run and collecting four RBIs as the Atlanta Braves topped the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Tuesday night.
Austin Riley contributed a pair of doubles, including a go-ahead drive to right-center in the seventh inning. Jarred Kelenic added three walks and crossed the plate twice for Atlanta.
Riley’s clutch hit in the seventh brought home Marcell Ozuna, who had drawn a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Orion Kerkering (1-1).
Kyle Schwarber powered the Phillies’ offense with a home run and three RBIs.
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Both starters — Zack Wheeler for Philadelphia and Chris Sale for Atlanta — surrendered five runs apiece in a showdown featuring last season’s top two NL Cy Young candidates.
Daysbel Hernández (1-0) earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, and Raisel Iglesias locked down his first save of the season despite a two-out walk to Bryce Harper in the ninth.
Chris Sale, the reigning 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed nine hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings. Sale captured the award with 26 first-place votes, while Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings Tuesday, finished second in voting with four first-place nods.
The game featured an early defensive highlight when veteran infielder Edmundo Sosa, making his first career start in the outfield, reached over the left-field wall to rob Marcell Ozuna of a first-inning home run.
Austin Riley later capitalized on a defensive miscue to score in the second inning, after his fly ball dropped in front of center fielder Johan Rojas, who seemed to expect Sosa to make the catch. Riley was awarded a double.
Wheeler came into the game riding a dominant streak, having gone 13 consecutive regular-season starts with at least six innings pitched and no more than two runs allowed. That run ended against Atlanta’s potent lineup.
Looking ahead, the Phillies will send right-hander Taijuan Walker (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound for his second start of the season after tossing six shutout innings in a win over Colorado. The Braves will counter with Grant Holmes (0-1, 7.20 ERA).
