Phillies finally ends 10-game losing streak vs. Braves

The Philadelphia Phillies at last broke free from their long, suffocating slump on Saturday night, outdueling the Atlanta Braves 8-5 in 10 innings at Truist Park to end a 10-game losing streak that had been haunting them since April 13.

Philadelphia’s success was underwritten by the comeback of right-hander Zack Wheeler, who made his first appearance since August 15 of last year following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Wheeler pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six. He threw 84 pitches, with 56 going for strikes, and exited with a 3-2 lead. He showed no major drop in velocity concerns, repeatedly reaching above 95 mph in his early work and striking out Ronald Acuna Jr. twice, once with a 96.5 mph fastball and once with an 82.8 mph sweeper.

Atlanta’s Bryce Elder matched a season-high with seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two. The Braves tied the game in the fourth and took a 4-3 lead in the sixth before the Phillies answered late.

Philadelphia opened the scoring in the first inning when Adolis Garcia drove an RBI triple after a defensive misplay in left field by Mike Yastrzemski. Bryson Stott kept the wheels turning in the fourth, ripping a triple that cashed in Brandon Marsh from first to home. Atlanta responded in the same frame with a sacrifice fly from Michael Harris II and an RBI double from Austin Riley, his 500th career RBI.

The Phillies regained the lead in the fifth when Rafael Marchan scored on Bryce Harper’s infield single, which also ended an 0-for-18 stretch with runners in scoring position against the Braves.

The game was tied 4-4 in the eighth after Kyle Schwarber reached third on a fielding error in center field and scored on a Harper sacrifice fly.

In the 10th, Philadelphia broke through. Harper came up clutch with a bases-loaded two-run single off Jose Suarez, driving in the automatic runner and Trea Turner. Brandon Marsh followed with a two-run single to extend the lead. Phillies relievers Brad Keller and Kyle Backhus combined to close out the final frames, securing the win.

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