By PAUL NEWBERRY, Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Marcell Ozuna hit a home run and Reynaldo López pitched five strong innings in his return from the injured list to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
The six-time defending division champions moved to within six games of Philadelphia in the opener of a crucial three-game series. The rivals will meet six more times in the next 12 games, giving the weakened Braves a chance to further narrow the gap.
Ozuna and López were a big support for Atlanta after the team learned the day before that powerful third baseman Austin Riley would be out for at least the rest of the regular season due to a broken hand.
It was just the latest in a relentless series of injuries that have put the division’s winning streak in jeopardy and left the Braves clinging to the final wild-card spot in the NL.
Ozuna broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with his 37th home run of the season, a 432-foot hit over the center field wall against Zack Wheeler (12-6), who missed the chance to record his 100th career win against his hometown team.
After hitting a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, Ozuna dropped his bat, stood rooted to the spot at home base, and admired his mammoth hit as it disappeared into the bushes behind the wall.
López made his first start since July 28, when the All-Star pitcher lasted just three innings against the New York Mets before leaving with tightness in his right forearm.
After a stint on the injured list, López continued his stellar season by recording 10 strikeouts in his first game with double-digit Ks since 2019 when he was with the Chicago White Sox.
Grant Holmes (2-0) earned the win with two perfect innings after filling in for López. Raisel Iglesias made the ninth inning and recorded his 27th save in 29 chances.
Michael Harris II gave the Braves the lead in the third inning with a run-scoring single after former Phillies infielder Whit Merrifield started with a triple.
The Phillies tied the score in the fourth inning by stringing together three hits against López, including an RBI single by JT Realmuto.
Atlanta’s lineup featured three players released by other teams this season, including new third baseman Gio Urshela, who walked the bases loaded in the eighth inning to extend the Braves’ lead, just two days after being released by the Detroit Tigers.
Center field at Truist Park was dotted with unsightly square patches, the remnants of the stage that had been set up for a weekend concert by country star Luke Bryan.
