Luke Williams' First Career Home Run Walks Phillies Off Over Braves
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Luke Williams walked Philadelphia off with his first big league homer, hitting a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Phillies over the Atlanta Braves 2-1 Wednesday night.
The Phillies had just four hits and made 15 straight outs before Andrew McCutchen drew a one-out walk off Will Smith (1-5) in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Brad Miller popped out to second, bringing up Williams, who was promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday for his first taste of the majors.
Williams drove an 0-1 slider over the wall in left. It was the 24-year-old's first homer in an affiliated game since connecting on Aug. 23, 2019 for Double-A Reading.
Ranger Suarez (2-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief for Philadelphia.
Williams debuted as a pinch-hitter Tuesday and got his first hit with a bunt single. He started in center on Wednesday and had a solid double to left in the fourth inning — the Phillies' last hit prior to his homer.
William Contreras and Ozzie Albies each had three hits for the Braves, who were trying to go over .500 for the first time this season.
Tucker Davidson, making his third start in 2021 and fourth of his career, was in line to earn his first career win after giving up four hits with four strikeouts and a walk in six scoreless innings. The left-hander lowered his ERA to 1.52 while trying to secure the rotation spot vacated when Huascar Ynoa broke his hand.
The 25-year-old got plenty of help behind him, beginning in the first when Abraham Almonte dived to his right to rob McCutchen and save at least one run. Shortstop Dansby Swanson opened the game with a stellar play to steal a hit away from Jean Segura, diving hard to his right and just beating Segura at first with the throw.
Ronald Acuña Jr., a night after launching a 460-foot homer in the Braves' 9-5 victory over Philadelphia, did damage defensively this time with a terrific running grab of McCutchen's drive to right-center in the sixth.
The Braves got their run with two outs in the sixth off Zach Eflin. Swanson singled to center, Almonte followed with a single to center and Contreras drove home Swanson with a single to right.
It looked like that would be enough for the Braves. After Davidson exited, Tyler Matzek and Chris Martin combined to strike out three Phillies in two scoreless innings before Smith entered in the ninth.
Atlanta blew a chance to take an early lead, failing to score after loading the bases with no outs in the second. Contreras hit a weak grounder to third that resulted in a force out at the plate, Davidson struck out and Acuña grounded out.
Eflin allowed a run on eight hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in six innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: SS Didi Gregorius (elbow) started at shortstop and led off in a rehab assignment for Lehigh Valley on Wednesday night. Gregorius has been out since May 12.
UP NEXT
The teams wrap up the three-game set on Thursday with Atlanta RHP Ian Anderson (4-3, 3.64) opposing Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (4-3, 2.51).