The Braves were 0-for-9 with runners-in-scoring-position on Tuesday night. The Phillies were 3-for-8. That was essentially the difference in the Braves fourth loss in five games.
Something needs to change.
One of the most obvious is to replace Jose Constanza with Jason Heyward. Despite Fredi Gonzalez continuing to play the struggling outfielder, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and five runners left on base. Add on a poor defensive play in the seventh inning and his days of being a starter should be over.
Outside of Constanza, every starter outside of Freddie Freeman left at least two runners on base. Michael Bourn contributed to the cause with three hits, including a double, but also struck out in a key situation in the eighth inning with two on and two out. Dan Uggla hit his 33rd home run -- a solo shot to center field -- which tied a career-high. The slugging second baseman continues to amaze in the second half.
Tim Hudson pitched well in stretches, but a bad first inning and final inning did him in. He allowed two runs in the first on a solo-homer to Chase Utley and a bloop RBI-single to Braves Killer Raul Ibanez.
Atlanta tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Alex Gonzalez. Unfortunately, the Phillies battled back in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 4-2. Atlanta made it 4-3 with an RBI-fielders choice groundout. Philadelphia answered once again, though, and made it 6-3 to essentially end the game.
The Braves will try and avoid their first sweep of the season Wednesday evening. This is the second straight series the team has lost.