Bryce Harper, Gregory Soto go over Phillies’ hard loss to Braves

ATLANTA — Gregory Soto got his very first taste of the Phillies-Braves rivalry Thursday evening. It did not go so hot.

The lefty Soto entered a tied game in the bottom of the eighth inning with left-handed-hitting Eddie Rosario and switch-hitting Ozzie Albies due up. Immediately after starting the frame by striking out pinch-hitter Kevin Pillar, Soto place 5 straight Braves on base — single, double, stroll, two-run single, single — and 3 of them came about to score in an eight-five Phillies loss.

It place a damper on an thrilling evening that had a major-game really feel and integrated Phillies comebacks to tie or take a lead in 3 separate innings.

Soto’s very first two months in a Phillies uniform have been strange. To say he’s had ups and downs would be placing it lightly. 

He could not throw strikes in two of his very first 3 appearances, then permitted 1 hit and no earned runs more than his subsequent 11.

He was hit difficult on Might two at Dodger Stadium for 4 runs on 4 hits in two-thirds of an inning, then he went six straight outings devoid of enabling a hit or a run.

He was hit difficult once more on Might 17 in San Francisco, enabling 3 runs on 5 hits. Then he rebounded against the Cubs and Diamondbacks just before providing up 3 additional runs on 4 hits in two-thirds of an inning Thursday evening.

“It is been frustrating, it really is been a small tricky simply because I either have genuinely great outings or genuinely poor outings,” Soto mentioned via Phillies interpreter Diego Ettedgui.

“I like moments like (tonight). I like rivalries like this. I really feel that I am prepared for them. All I can inform you is that I am going to hold operating difficult.”

The very first meeting of 2023 among the Phillies and Braves integrated 5 dwelling runs. The only complete innings neither group scored had been the third and the sixth. Austin Riley demolished two of Aaron Nola’s offerings for homers that traveled 458 and 459 feet. Marcell Ozuna also took Nola deep.

However the Phillies came back in the second, fifth and seventh innings to either tie the Braves or take the lead. Alec Bohm launched a two-run shot to center. Bryce Harper homered 445 feet to suitable and began a rally two innings later with a two-out bunt single.

The Phillies hit. They just did not pitch.

“It is constantly a grind against these guys,” mentioned Nola, who has created 32 profession begins against the Braves, 4 additional than he’s created against any group and 11 additional than he’s created against the Marlins, for instance.

Riley, Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. have all observed Nola additional than they’ve observed any other major-league pitcher.

“I’ve faced these guys like 50 instances,” he mentioned. “They have quite substantially the very same squad. They’ve got a great club. It is not the final time I am going to face them. Throw this 1 behind me and get prepared for New York.”

This is a vital juncture for the 23-27 Phillies. They have nine additional games on their road trip against the Braves, Mets and Nationals. They are currently eight games behind the Braves in the division. They have shown flashes of their prospective but have not played constant baseball in any phase. 

The 31-19 Braves have been far superior and have a clear identity as an offensive juggernaut. They lead the National League in slugging, OPS and runs per game.

The Phillies eliminated the Braves from the 2022 playoffs and are 37-37 against them dating back to the finish of 2018, so they know they can stand toe-to-toe with the group that has won 5 straight NL East crowns. But this is a new year. That magic carpet ride from October 2022 is just a memory.

“Coming in right here, we’ll in no way assume as a group that we cannot beat these guys,” Harper mentioned. “They are a great group. We’re a great group, as effectively. We grinded at-bats genuinely effectively. Riley took two great swings and that was the distinction nowadays. Not as well shocked at the way each teams bounced back. We’ll see what occurs tomorrow.”