Historic Night at Truist Park
Marcell Ozuna launched three home runs and drove in seven RBIs to lead the Atlanta Braves to a commanding 12-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night, delivering his first career three-homer game in front of a raucous crowd of 41,572 at Truist Park.
The 33-year-old designated hitter became just the fourth player in Braves franchise history to record three homers and seven RBIs in a single game, joining a list that includes Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Ozuna went 4-for-5 at the plate, raising his season average to .302 and extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
“I was seeing the ball really well tonight,” Ozuna said through an interpreter after the game. “When you feel locked in like that, you just try to stay aggressive and not miss your pitch.”
Phillies’ Playoff Hopes Take Another Hit
The loss dropped Philadelphia to 82-73, three games behind the Braves (85-70) in the tight National League wild-card race with seven games remaining. The Phillies entered the series needing to make up ground quickly, but Ozuna’s explosive performance put them in an early 4-0 hole that ballooned throughout the night.
Phillies starter Ranger Suárez lasted just 3.1 innings, surrendering eight runs on 10 hits. The left-hander, who entered with a 3.21 ERA, was tagged for two of Ozuna’s home runs – a three-run shot in the second inning and a solo blast in the fourth that traveled an estimated 438 feet to left-center field.
“Ranger didn’t have his best stuff tonight, and when you’re facing a hitter like Ozuna who’s locked in, you can’t afford to be around the zone,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “Credit to him – he didn’t miss those pitches.”
Braves Surge at Perfect Time
Atlanta has now won eight of its last 10 games, positioning themselves as the National League’s second wild-card team with their magic number down to three for clinching a playoff berth. The offensive explosion came at the perfect time for a Braves team that had scored just 12 runs in their previous four games combined.
Ozuna’s third homer came in the seventh inning off reliever José Alvarado, a two-run shot that capped the scoring and sent much of the Truist Park crowd into a standing ovation. The Dominican slugger circled the bases with both arms raised, acknowledging the crowd before disappearing into the dugout for a curtain call.
“Marcell has been our most consistent offensive player down the stretch,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “When he’s going good like this, it makes our whole lineup better because guys can feed off that energy.”
Supporting Cast Delivers
While Ozuna stole the headlines, the Braves received solid contributions throughout their lineup. Ronald Acuña Jr. went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and extended his on-base streak to 23 games. Matt Olson added an RBI double in the fifth inning, and Austin Riley chipped in with two hits and two runs.
On the mound, Braves starter Charlie Morton pitched six strong innings, allowing three runs while striking out eight batters. The veteran right-hander improved to 14-9 on the season and lowered his ERA to 4.03.
The victory marked Atlanta’s fifth win in seven games against Philadelphia this season, giving them the season series advantage with three games remaining between the teams this weekend.
The series continues Wednesday night with Max Fried scheduled to start for Atlanta against Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola in what could be another crucial game for both teams’ postseason aspirations.
