Murphy Makes Mark in Return; Braves Down Phils 7-5

by BRADY PENN

ATLANTA — After a rainout Sunday and an off day Monday, the Braves returned to action against division rival and reigning NL East champion Philadelphia. Fans at Truist Park were treated to what, on paper, looked like a marquee pitching matchup between last season’s top two National League Cy Young finishers: Zack Wheeler and Chris Sale.

However, both offenses struck early in Game 1 of the series. The Phillies opened the scoring in the top of the first after three straight singles, the last from Nick Castellanos, who drove in a run following strikeouts by Trea Turner and Bryce Harper.

The Braves went quietly in the bottom of the first, but the bats came alive in the second when Sean Murphy crushed a solo home run to left in his first at-bat of the 2025 season. That shot gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead, but it was short-lived. Sale was roughed up in the third, allowing three runs, including a Kyle Schwarber triple and another Castellanos RBI, this time on a double.

Sale settled in for a clean fourth but ran into more trouble in the fifth. With two outs, he surrendered a solo homer to Schwarber, followed by another double from Castellanos that ended his night. Enyel De Los Santos relieved him, walking J.T. Realmuto before retiring Edmundo Sosa to end the inning.

Sale’s final line: 4 2/3 innings, five runs, eight hits. His ERA ballooned to 6.75 after posting a 2.38 ERA in 2024. His velocity was also a concern, with his fastball hovering around 91–92 mph and struggling to generate swings and misses.

In the sixth, the Braves chipped away. Three straight singles cut the deficit to one, with Murphy driving in Bryan De La Cruz. Wheeler, at 96 pitches, stayed in to face Orlando Arcia, who battled for an eight-pitch walk to load the bases and end Wheeler’s night.

Matt Strahm entered for a lefty-lefty matchup against Michael Harris II, who delivered a sacrifice fly to left to score Jarred Kelenic and tie the game at 5. With two outs and two on, Ozzie Albies — typically strong from the right side — struck out to end the threat.

Left-hander Dylan Lee took over in the seventh and navigated a dangerous part of the Phillies’ order, retiring Harper and Alec Bohm before walking Schwarber. That prompted Brian Snitker to turn to right-hander Daysbel Hernandez, who quickly retired Castellanos on a fly ball to center, sending the game to the stretch tied.

In the bottom of the seventh, Austin Riley — off to a slow start this season — came through with a go-ahead double into the right-center gap, scoring Marcell Ozuna and giving the Braves a 6-5 lead.

Hernandez returned in the eighth and retired Realmuto, Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott in order. Atlanta added insurance in the bottom half after Arcia led off with a double, Harris dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Albies drew a walk. A wild pitch from Phillies reliever Tanner Banks brought Arcia home to make it 7-5.

Looking to close it out, the Braves sent Raisel Iglesias to the mound, hoping to rebound after blowing a save in Los Angeles six days earlier. He faced the top of the order: pinch-hitter Max Kepler, Turner and Harper.

Kepler nearly led off with a single, but Kelenic made a sliding catch in left for the first out. Iglesias then induced a flyout from Turner, bringing Harper — long a thorn in the Braves’ side — to the plate.

Harper entered the at-bat 6-for-9 with four homers lifetime against Iglesias. After falling behind, Iglesias issued a four-pitch walk to bring up Bohm as the tying run. But Bohm popped out to shallow left, and the Braves sealed just their second win of the season.

Now 2-8, Atlanta still has work to do, but Tuesday’s win showed signs of life. The offense put together quality at-bats, executed small-ball tactics, and battled back multiple times.

The Braves will try to take the series Wednesday night, sending Grant Holmes (0-1, 7.20 ERA) to the mound against Taijuan Walker (1-0, 0.00). Atlanta has fared well against Walker in the past, tagging him with a career 5.40 ERA in nine appearances.