Ronald Acuña Jr, Adam Duvall lead Braves over Phillies, 5-2

Atlanta’s offense finally broke out with a five-run fifth inning that paced the Braves to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader

Huascar Ynoa breezed through the first two innings but tired in the third. Neil Walker led off the inning with a single. Roman Quinn flew out to Ronald Acuña Jr. in right for the first out, but Andrew Knapp followed with a walk to put runners at first and second. That would end the day for Ynoa as Brian Snitker called for Tyler Matzek from the Braves bullpen.

Joe Girardi countered by sending Andrew McCutchen to the plate to pinch hit for Adam Haseley. Matzek’s first pitch to McCutchen bounced away from Tyler Flowers behind the plate which allowed both runners to move to second and third. McCutchen then grounded softly to third for the second out but Walker scored on the play to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Matzek then walked Rhys Hoskins but came back and struck out Bryce Harper with runners at the corners to end the inning.

Ynoa was not expected to go deep into the game and did his job pounding the strike zone. He would exit having allowed one hit, one walk and one run over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out one and threw 39 pitches.

Atlanta’s offense finally broke through in the fifth. Flowers singled off Vince Velasquez to lead off the inning. That would be it for Velasquez as Joe Girardi called for Deolis Guerra who got Ender Inciarte to pop out on the infield for the first out. That would set the stage for Acuña who would square one up and line a two-run shot out to left to put the Braves in front 2-1. Dansby Swanson followed with a single and Girardi would summon lefty Adam Morgan from the bullpen.

Atlanta wasted no time getting to Morgan as Freddie Freeman singled and Marcell Ozuna walked to load the bases. Brian Snitker would then send Adam Duvall to the plate to pinch hit for Nick Markakis against the lefty. Duvall then jumped all over the first pitch he saw from Morgan and ripped it into the left field corner for a double that cleared the bases and extended the lead to 5-1.

Luke Jackson replaced Matzek in the fifth and allowed a double to Quinn to lead-off the inning. Quinn moved over to third on a ground out by Knapp and then came in to score on a sacrifice fly by McCutchen. Jackson then walked Rhys Hoskins and was replaced by Will Smith who would be making his Atlanta debut. Smith walked Harper but then got Didi Gregorius to pop out in foul territory to end the threat.

Josh Tomlin pitched around a walk in a scoreless sixth. Mark Melancon allowed a single to McCutchen in the seventh

Atlanta’s offense finally got on track finishing with nine hits. Freeman came into the game in a 1-for-15 skid but went 3-for-4 in this one. Adam Duvall came off the bench and was 2-for-2 including the big double that blew the game open.

Game 2 will be coming up shortly with Max Fried scheduled to take the mound for the Braves while the Phillies will counter with top prospect Spencer Howard who will be making his major league debut.