The Phillies were poised to author a resounding response to being swept by the Mets earlier in the week.
They were on the cusp of sweeping the Braves in a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
But the bullpen couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
Jose Alvarado surrendered a two-run home run to Braves pinch hitter Drake Baldwin in the top of the ninth inning as Atlanta defeated the Phillies 3-1 in Sunday night’s series finale.
Jake Fraley led off the top of the ninth with an infield single. He advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Nacho Alvarez Jr. After pinch hitter Vidal Brujan struck out, Baldwin stepped to the plate and delivered the deciding swing of the night.
The Phillies led 1-0 entering the top of the eighth. Orion Kerkering surrendered an infield single and walked the next two batters to load the bases with no outs.
Rob Thomson removed Kerkering in favor of Tanner Banks, who did a masterful job of limiting the damage. After the tying run scored on a Matt Olson groundout, Banks struck out Ronald Acuna Jr. looking. Ozzie Albies was intentionally walked before Banks got Michael Harris II to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
The bullpen spoiled a terrific outing by Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo, who set the tone by retiring the first 13 Braves batters he faced. He tossed six and two-thirds shutout innings, leaving the field to a standing ovation.
Luzardo allowed just two hits, struck out seven and issued one walk. He threw 104 pitches, 71 for strikes.
Marsh provided the Phillies’ only run of the night in the bottom of the fourth inning, swatting a solo home run to right field. It was Marsh’s eighth homer of the season.
It was the only damage the Phillies did against Braves rookie phenom Hurston Waldrep, who entered his fifth career start with a 0.90 ERA. The 23-year old right-hander allowed one run in five and two-thirds innings, striking out nine and walking four.
The Phillies squandered several scoring opportunities, leaving runners in scoring position in the third, fifth and seventh innings.
The Phillies finished the month of August with a 18-11 record. They are 79-58 on the season and remain six games ahead of the Mets in the NL East. New York lost 5-1 to the Marlins on Sunday afternoon.
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