Wheels Fall Off as Phillies Drop Second Game to Surging Braves

The Philadelphia Phillies were coming off a huge Game 1 victory over their rival Atlanta Braves when they completely shut down the best lineup in baseball.

They looked to be on their way to doing the same thing in Game 2 as Zack Wheeler was pitching lights out.

He hadn't allowed a hit through five innings pitched until Ozzie Albies got the Braves' first hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth.

That hit scored Ronald Acuna Jr., who had walked as the previous batter, on Trea Turner's fielding error.

Still, the Phillies were in business holding a 4-1 lead through six innings.

Rob Thomson decided to send his ace Wheeler back out for the seventh inning and that's where the wheels started to fall off.

Matt Olson delivered a hard hit single up the middle and Travis d'Arnaud blasted a two-run homer to make the score 4-3.

Reliever Jose Alvarado was able to clean up the inning, limiting further damage with two strikeouts.

He came back out for one batter in the eighth inning before being pulled in favor of right handed reliever Jeff Hoffman to face the right handed bats of Atlanta.

With one out, Hoffman hit Acuna Jr. with his first pitch of the at-bat, putting the tying run on first base.

He was able to get Albies to ground out for the second out.

Then, the wheels of Philadelphia completely fell off.

With two strikes in the count, Austin Riley hit a two-run homer to left field, giving the Braves a 5-4 lead.

The Phillies had another chance in the top of the ninth inning with Bryce Harper drawing a walk as the first batter.

Nick Castellanos was at the plate with one out. He hit a deep drive to right-center field where Michael Harris made an incredible leaping catch at the wall.

Harper was rounding second thinking that if the play couldn't be made, he'd be able to score and tie the game.

Harris caught the ball and Harper was doubled up.

Game over.

The series is now tied 1-1 heading back to Philadelphia, where the Braves have played excellent this season and are beginning to surge once again.