Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis extended an unexpected power surge as they combined to record three home runs that backed Matt Wisler’s strong start and helped the Braves claim Friday night’s 7-1 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Freeman drilled a two-run shot off Aaron Nola in the third inning and added another in the ninth inning against Brett Oberholtzer to complete the seventh multi-homer game of his career and his first multi-RBI game of the season. Markakis also hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning, during which Nola was dinged for three unearned runs. The Braves have hit nine home runs over their past five games, equalling what they had totaled over the 36 games played before Monday.
“That’s good to see, Freddie getting hot, and Nick swung the bat really well tonight,” Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. “Matt Wisler was really good. He had a little trouble at the beginning of the ballgame, but he settled in. It’s fun watching him. He did a really good job.”
The Braves have hit nine home runs over their past five games, equaling what they had totaled over the 36 games played before Monday. On the flip side, Nola had not allowed a homer since April 16, and Freeman’s home run in the third inning was the first Nola gave up in 36 innings.
Wisler recovered from the command issues he experienced during the first inning and matched a season-high seven strikeouts while limiting the Phillies to one run over 6 2/3 innings. The Braves have now won three games during each of their past two road trips. They have gone 2-17 at home.
Each of the six homers Freeman had hit before Friday were solo shots. Markakis joined his team’s power barrage when he went the other way with a two-out, two-run homer that followed Gordon Beckham’s RBI single in the seventh inning. Markakis became the fourth Braves player to hit his first home run of the season this week.
“When you look in the room, there might not be a bunch of 20-25-home run hitters, but there’s guys in there capable of doing what we did tonight, and that’s good,” Snitker said. “I told them the other day, if you keep grinding, things will start falling our way, too. You just got to handle that adversity.”
Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco made two errors, doubling his season total. Franco was charged with his first on the first play of the game as Braves leadoff man Ender Inciarte hit a shot down the third-base line. Franco made another gaffe in the seventh inning, allowing Mallex Smith to reach on a two-base error as his throw sailed into the stands. Smith came around to score to put Atlanta ahead, 3-1. Franco was almost charged with a third error in the eighth inning after he bobbled an Erick Aybar grounder, but Aybar was called out at first after a replay review.
After surrendering Ryan Howard’s RBI groundout during a 21-pitch first inning, Wisler made some mechanical adjustments that helped him retire eight of the next nine batters he faced and pitch around a pair of singles in the fourth inning. The right-hander then retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced, exiting before the start of the eighth inning for the first time in four starts. He has posted a 1.80 ERA over these four starts.
“He’s been pitching great all season long, especially these past few starts where he’s been on top of his game,” Freeman said. “It’s been going well for him, so hopefully it keeps going well.”
Williams Perez will attempt to recreate his recent success against Philadelphia when this three-game series resumes on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. CT. Perez limited the Phillies to two hits over eight innings on May 11. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of that contest on the Braves Radio Network
