Orlando Arcia hit two solo home runs, including one as part of back-to-back shots with Sean Murphy in the third inning, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.
Both teams are likely to make the playoffs, but with this win, the Braves moved within five games of the division-leading Phillies. There are 27 games left in the season.
“That’s a really good team over there,” Phillies slugger Bryce Harper said. “They’re playing real good baseball right now. They’re in our ballpark. We’ve got a good chance to go and beat them the next two.”
Reynaldo López (8-4) won his second straight start and seems to have bounced back from a rough June. López allowed one run and gave up four hits over six innings while striking out six.
His ERA against the Phillies this season is now 1.06 over three starts and 17 innings.
Harper doubled twice off López — bringing his total to 33 this season — and also singled while wearing a black sleeve on his right arm. A two-time NL MVP, Harper told MLB.com before the game that he’s been dealing with ongoing wrist and elbow issues.
“It’s not anything crazy, but obviously it’s there,” Harper said. He has not hit a home run since Aug. 9, extending his streak to 77 plate appearances without a homer.
Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto both hit home runs for the Phillies.
Ranger Suárez (11-6) struck out the first five batters — a feat not accomplished by a Phillies pitcher since Cole Hamels in 2010 — in his second start since returning from a month-long absence due to lower-back tightness. The left-hander’s strikeout streak did not continue.
