PHILADELPHIA — After an offensive explosion in the first five innings of Sunday’s game, the Phillies’ bats fell quiet once they returned from a rain delay that lasted 2 hours, 5 minutes. The Phillies entered the delay with a one-run lead, and for a while, it looked like the bullpen was going to hold it. But David Robertson allowed an earned run before the game went into extra innings and the Phillies were unable to muster the run support needed to finish the job, falling to the Atlanta Braves, 8-7, in 11 innings.
Nick Nelson gave the Phillies team an inning of hitless ball. José Alvarado followed for the seventh inning, striking out the side and throwing his hardest pitch of the season, a 102.5-mph sinker. But in the top of the eighth, Robertson struggled to get the job done with two outs.
After striking out Travis d’Arnaud and inducing a fly out from Matt Olson, Robertson walked William Contreras and allowed a double to Eddie Rosario. He intentionally walked pinch-hitter Ronald Acuña Jr. to pitch to Robbie Grossman, but he threw a wild pitch that scored Contreras and tie the ballgame at 6-6.
