A Rookie-of-the-Year moment for Baldwin?

PHILADELPHIA — If catcher Drake Baldwin comes away with the National League Rookie of the Year Award, he can point to Sunday as arguably his defining moment.

Baldwin’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Braves a 3-1 win over the Phillies.

The Braves trailed 1-0 entering the eighth inning, but Matt Olson tied it at 1 with an RBI groundout.

Jake Fraley started the ninth with an infield single off José Alvarado (4-2) and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Vidal Bruján struck out, but Baldwin drove Alvarado’s first pitch, a 98-mph sinker, over the wall in left field.

Baldwin walked as a pinch hitter in the eighth and remained in the game at catcher.

Tyler Kinley (4-3) tossed a perfect eighth and Raisel Iglesias struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save in 28 chances.

Braves rookie Hurston Waldrep pitched 5 2/3 strong innings. Fraley came off the bench in the seventh and went 2 for 2. Michael Harris II also had two hits for Atlanta.

Waldrep continued to impress, giving up one run on four hits with nine strikeouts and four walks. After starting two games in 2024, the 23-year-old right-hander, the No. 24 overall draft pick in 2023, was called up to the Braves on Aug. 2 and has a 1.01 ERA in six outings, including five starts.

Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up two hits while striking out seven and walking one.

Key moment

Alvarado could have gotten the first out in the ninth but couldn’t field Fraley’s grounder just to the side of the pitcher’s mound. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner fielded the slow grounder but didn’t have enough time to get Fraley.

Key stat

Waldrep allowed four earned runs over 35 2/3 innings in August. He also struck out 33 batters.

Up next

Braves: Open a three-game set at the Chicago Cubs on Monday afternoon. Atlanta RHP Spencer Strider (5-12, 4.95 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Colin Rea (10-6, 4.23).