The Braves got exactly the reset they needed before Philadelphia arrived. Atlanta beat Tampa Bay 3–1 Thursday after five straight eighth-inning hits finally broke a scoreless game. Ha-Seong Kim delivered the biggest blow with a two-run single.
At nearly the same time, Houston beat Philadelphia 2–1 on Cam Smith's ninth-inning homer. The combination moves Atlanta to 86–61 and Philadelphia to 82–65. That puts the Braves exactly 4.0 games ahead of the Phillies in the NL East.
Now the teams play three games head-to-head at Truist Park, beginning tonight with Chris Sale scheduled for Atlanta against Aaron Nola. With a little more than two weeks left, every head-to-head result has double value.
The Braves are 86–61 and exactly 4.0 games ahead of the 82–65 Phillies in the NL East. Atlanta rallied in the eighth inning Thursday to beat Tampa Bay 3–1, while Philadelphia lost 2–1 to Houston. Chris Sale is scheduled to face Aaron Nola tonight.