Whatever angst Braves fans felt following a disheartening two-game stretch against the Royals, perhaps Friday’s result eased those emotions. But in the clubhouse, the 9-2 victory wasn’t celebrated.
The Braves stormed Philadelphia, running away with the first game of their road trip and eliminating the Phillies' best-case scenario of a weekend sweep. But their stalwart right fielder Nick Markakis took a pitch to the wrist, and with shortstop Dansby Swanson's uneasy status, the Braves might've finally been struck with the injury bug.
“It’s nice to win,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “But more importantly, we’re worried about a couple guys on the team right now.”
Markakis was popped by a 90-mph fastball in the sixth inning after exited after rounding the bases. The early returns are discouraging, and Markakis seems likely to end up on the injured list, possibly for an extended amount of time.
Earlier in the day, Swanson didn't make his anticipated return to the lineup due to a heel he injured earlier in the week. He also appears headed for the IL, barring a positive change Saturday. Such would sideline two of the team's pillars.
And so the win – made possible by the offense rediscovering its groove – proved a footnote. The post-game clubhouse wasn’t one of elation, but rather concern. A team that’s avoided ailments for much of the season couldn’t dodge Friday’s wave.
Markakis, who played in all 162 games a season ago and has appeared in every game this season, didn’t sound optimistic during his post-game interview. He’ll be evaluated by doctors Saturday but appears resigned to his fate on the IL.
“I don’t know much right now,” Markakis said. “I’ll go see the doctor (Saturday) and see how it feels. Like Snit (manager Brian Snitker) said, it doesn’t look good, but you never know. … I know it got me pretty good. I’ve been hit in the wrist before. I was turning into it, trying to get out of the way, but it was like a heat-seeking missile. I couldn’t get out of the way of it. It squared me up pretty good.”
What’s unsure is if the wrist is broken, which would ensure Markakis a lengthen absence. The Braves have outfield options, including utilitymen Charlie Culberson and Johan Camargo (one of whom may need to fill in for Swanson). They also have Adam Duvall, a slugger and gold glove finalist, in Triple-A.
“We’re not real optimistic,” Snitker said. “It doesn’t look good. It was his wrist, got it pretty good.”
As for the game, much has changed since these teams last met at Citizens Bank Park, when the Phillies humiliated the Braves on opening weekend. Those demons are long gone and Philadelpha fell 6 ½ games behind in the East.
Even better for the Braves: The second-place Nationals were stifled by the Dodgers, dropping to 5 1/2 games back.
The evening began with Ronald Acuna extending his on-base streak to 30 games with a leadoff single. He stole a base and scored on Freeman’s hit. Phillies starter Jake Arrieta piloted through the next three innings before the fifth went off the rails.
Brian McCann homered to the second deck in right field. Acuna brought home a couple more with his single. Ozzie Albies scored Acuna by swatting a ball into the right-field corner. A 1-0 lead ballooned to 5-0, and Arrieta – who’s been pitching through a bone spur – was finished.
Braves starter Mike Soroka went only 4 2/3 innings, allowing a run on eight hits. The Braves have made it clear they won’t push him and will take opportunities to pull him early, an effort to keep his workload down. With a 5-1 lead, Snitker had that luxury.
The Braves posted another four-run inning in the sixth, building a 9-1 advantage. They were able to coast to a win with a selection of bullpen arms, including rookie Jeremy Walker who pitched a scoreless ninth in his debut, but the injury circumstances overshadow what could’ve been an outstanding day.
Left-hander Max Fried returns from the injured list to start Saturday. He’ll oppose Zach Eflin, whose up-and-down season has resulted in a 4.25 ERA.
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