MLB Playoffs: Phillies edge Braves in four Division Series games

The defending World Series champions will not be able to defend their title.

The Atlanta Braves suffered an 8-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of their Division Series and the Phillies won the series in four games to advance to the Championship Series.

Back to the wall, the Braves did not have the expected start to the game. In the second inning, they saw the Phillies take a 3-0 lead thanks to a three-run homer from Brandon Marsh.

The Braves cut the deficit to 3-1 on a solo homer from Orlando Arcia, but they weren’t done yet. In the third inning, JT Realmuto hit the ball hard on the center field wall and took the opportunity to homer inside the field to make it 4-1 for the Phillies.

Realmuto became the first Phillies receiver and player to join the list of players to hit an infield homer in the MLB playoffs. It was the 18th home run of its kind in history.

In the sixth inning, the Phillies made a three-run push to take off and race to victory. In the eighth inning, Bryce Harper hit his third home run of the playoffs.

For the Braves, Matt Olson and Travis d’Arnaud hit long balls in the loss.

Phillies starter Noah Syndergaard allowed just one hit and one run in three innings of work and recorded three strikeouts.

The Phillies have been a transformed club since Canadian Rob Thomson replaced Joe Girardi as manager in early June. The squad then had a 22-29 record.

“We had ups and downs like all teams,” said Thomson. But the guys knew they could pull through and start winning again. »

The Phillies are now waiting to find out who of the Dodgers or Padres will join them in the next round. San Diego leads the series 2-1 and could end it tonight.