Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves Box Score on Apr 09, 2021

Ronald Acuna Jr. had a pair of doubles and blasted a 456-foot home run to lead the Atlanta Braves to an 8-1 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, extending their winning streak to three games.

Acuna was 4-for-5, including his third homer of the season, a two-run shot off starter Zack Wheeler. It was the fifth four-hit game of his career.

Acuna also saved at least one run when he made a leaping catch in right field, with runners on first and second base, to take a likely extra-base hit away from Alec Bohm in the sixth inning.

The Braves hit two other homers, a pinch-hit shot from Ehire Adrianza and a two-run homer from Freddie Freeman, his second.

Atlanta starter Charlie Morton (1-1) pitched six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk. He struck out seven.

Tyler Matzek, Nate Jones and Luke Jackson each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the game for Atlanta.

The Braves chased Wheeler (1-1) after 4 2/3 innings, although the move was necessitated when manager Joe Girardi forgot he had already made one mound visit and went out for another quick chat. Girardi was headed back to the dugout when home plate umpire Carlos Torres informed him that a change was required. Girardi sheepishly walked back toward Wheeler, touched his chest to indicate the fault was his, and reached for the ball.

Wheeler, who pitched seven scoreless innings against the Braves last week, did not have the same control. He allowed three runs on seven hits, four walks and struck out four.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a soft RBI single by Andrew McCutchen.

Atlanta took the lead with a three-run rally in the fifth. After Acuna's two-run homer, Ozzie Albies doubled and scored on a two-out hit from Travis d'Arnaud.

The Braves extended the lead to 6-1 in the sixth inning when Adrianza delivered a three-run pinch-hit homer. Freeman homered in the eighth.

--Field Level Media