Braves Today

TAKEAWAYS: Atlanta dominates Philadelphia in the series finale

ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball was in the house to witness an offensive explosion by Atlanta

Lindsay Crosby

The Atlanta Braves absolutely exploded on offense to take down the Philadelphia Phillies, 11-4, and secure a series split on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.

What do you need to know from the contest? 

Spencer Strider absolutely dominated Philadelphia

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The righthander struck out nine in his six innings of work (with two hits, one walk, and two runs allowed), pushing him over the 100 strikeout plateau in only sixty-one innings.

The previous record in the modern-era was Jacob DeGrom in 2021, who hit 100 strikeouts in 61.2 innings (although because of injury, was only able to pitch 92.0 innings and strike out 146 in the season). 

With Strider passing DeGrom, he's the fastest to hit 100 strikeouts in a season since 1893. 

Atlanta's 1st inning offense is absolutely lethal

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

As he so frequently does, Ronald Acuña led off the game with a base hit.

As he so frequently does, Matt Olson immediately drove Acuña in for an early 2-0 lead. 

Atlanta scored seven runs in the first inning, batting around (and knocking Phillies starter Dylan Covey out of the game after only 0.2 innings) with seven hits, two Phillies errors, and back to back homeruns from Matt Olson and Austin Riley. The Braves would finish this one with twenty hits, their most since the infamous 29-9 victory over the Miami Marlins in the 2020 Covid year, where they scored twenty-nine runs on twenty-three hits. 

For the game, Braves batters only struck out four times, with every starter collecting at least one hit and seven of the nine hitters scoring a run in the outing (Sean Murphy, Ozzie Albies).   

Michael Harris made the defensive play of the year

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Schwarber, last year's NL leader in homeruns (and strikeouts) tried to get Philadelphia back into the contest in the 2nd inning. 

Michael Harris II was not having it. 

Last year's NL Rookie of the Year went up and brought the homerun back, robbing Schwarber of the hit and run. It's the defensive highlight of the year for the young centerfielder, who missed time early in the season with a back injury and battled through a knee injury one he returned. 

Nobody was happier to see the robbery than Braves starter Spencer Strider. 

Defense doesn't slump. 

Atlanta secured a series split

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Because of MLB's new balanced schedule, what would sometimes be two three game series have been condensed into one four game series. 

Atlanta has yet to lose any of those extended series (or any series, really) to NL East opponents. 

The Braves are 11-5 against the division, with six wins against Miami (in seven games), two wins against the Mets (in three games), this split against Philadelphia and an Opening Weekend split with Washington. 

Atlanta travels out for a two city road trip next, facing Oakland and Arizona, and won't face another divisional opponent until June 6th when they host the Mets and the Nationals for a six game homestand. 

What's next on the schedule for the Atlanta Braves?

The Atlanta Braves travel to California for a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics. First pitch in Monday's series opener is set for 8:07 PM ET, with Michael Soroka the expected starter for Atlanta. The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.

Other Stories from the Philadelphia Series
WATCH:Matt Olson hits ANOTHER two-run homerun against the Phillies
Spencer Strider is the fastest pitcher to 100 strikeouts in a season since 1893
WATCH: Michael Harris II absolutely steals a home run away from Kyle Schwarber
WATCH: Ronald Acuña singles home two for a seven-run lead in the first inning
WATCH: Matt Olson and Austin Riley go back to back to put the Braves up early
Lineup, how to watch the Atlanta Braves series finale versus the Philadelphia Phillies
Takeaways: Braves drop a 2-1 pitchers duel to the Phillies
Takeaways: Atlanta Braves Bullpen Lets One Walk Away
WATCH: Michael Harris drops a bomb into left-center to give Atlanta the lead
Lineup, how to watch the Braves take on Philadelphia in Friday night's game two
WATCH: Austin Riley crushes his second home run of the game
WATCH: Marcell Ozuna continues to tear the cover off the ball
WATCH: Austin Riley destroys a ball into the left-field seats for his 8th home run of the season
Podcast: Atlanta Braves struggled vs LA Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies Predictions
Lineup, how to watch Atlanta's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on OutKast Night
Dylan Dodd officially called up to start tonight's game vs Philadelphia
It's OutKast Night at Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta

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Lindsay Crosby
LINDSAY CROSBY

Managing Editor for Braves Today and the 2023 IBWAA Prospects/Minors Writer of the Year. You can reach him at contact@bravestoday.com

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