Maybe the Braves exhausted all their offense in Sunday’s six-run ninth inning.
After rallying from a 9-4 deficit a day before, the Braves’ bats were silenced by Nick Pivetta in a 3-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday.
It moved the Phillies within a half-game of the Braves for the NL East lead. The Braves are still 6-4 against their eastern rivals on the year.
Mike Foltynewicz wasn’t efficient, but he was escaping unscathed until the fourth. Nick Williams just barely hit one over the left-field wall for a 1-0 lead.
Aaron Altherr’s pinch-hit two-run homer off Shane Carle in the seventh gave the Phillies breathing room. Scott Kingery had opened the inning with a bunt single.
The Braves’ best scoring chances came in the second and third innings. Kurt Suzuki singled to start the second, and Dansby Swanson added a hit after Ender Inciarte and Johan Camargo failed to reach. Unfortunately for the Braves, Foltynewicz was up and flew out to center.
The Braves again had two on with two out in the third, but Suzuki struck out.
From the fourth inning onwards, the Braves had two baserunners. Camargo walked in the seventh but got caught stealing. Ozzie Albies began the eighth with a single and wasn’t advanced.
