Bohm's eighth-inning sacrifice fly scores Schwarber and lifts Phillies over Braves

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on Alec Bohm’s sacrifice fly and the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Friday night.

Schwarber, who became the 21st player in major league history to hit four home runs in a game on Thursday, hit a one-out single in this one, went to third on Bryce Harper’s single off Dylan Lee (2-4) and scored on Bohm’s flyout to right field off Pierce Johnson.

Jhoan Duran pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save in nine chances since joining Philadelphia at the trade deadline, and 24th in 26 tries overall this season.

Orion Kerkering (7-4) tossed a scoreless eighth after Matt Strahm and David Robertson each didn’t allow a run in one inning. Phillies starter Ranger Suárez tied his season high with 10 hits allowed, but surrendered just one run — thanks in part to three inning-ending double plays.

A night after becoming the fourth Phillies player to go deep four times in a game, Schwarber grounded out, walked and popped out to shortstop before his eighth-inning hit. He leads the NL in homers (49) and RBIs (119) and received “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants when introduced by PA announcer Dan Baker.

Matt Olson had three hits for the Braves, who finished with 12 total. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy had doubles.

Philadelphia had just six hits a night after scoring 19 runs on 20 hits, including seven homers and 10 extra-base hits, and 19 RBIs in a 19-4 win in the opener of the four-game series.

The loss ruined a strong outing by Braves starter Bryce Elder, who allowed one run and three hits in seven innings.

Schwarber hustled to third base on Harper’s one-out single in the eighth to set up Bohm's go-ahead RBI.

Harper extended his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games with a fourth-inning bunt single after the Braves shifted Harper to his pull side.

LHP Cristopher Sánchez (11-5, 2.66) starts for the Phillies in the third contest of the four-game set on Saturday night. Atlanta hadn't announced its starter.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, left, is tagged out by Philadelphia Phillies catcher Rafael Marchán after trying to score on a line out by Marcell Ozuna during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran reacts after the Phillies won a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm hits an RBI-sacrifice fly against Atlanta Braves pitcher Pierce Johnson during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm watches after hitting an RBI-sacrifice fly against Atlanta Braves pitcher Pierce Johnson during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan didn’t let city rival Inter Milan open up too big a gap at the top of Serie A as it fought back to win 3-1 at in-form Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot winning a penalty and then scoring two goals.

Inter had moved six points clear of Milan and Napoli with a 1-0 win over Lecce on Wednesday, coupled with Napoli’s frustrating draw against Parma.

Milan’s victory saw the Rossoneri cut the gap back to three points.

It didn’t start off so well for Massimiliano Allegri’s team, however.

Como — which was sixth in Serie A — got off to the perfect start when a corner was taken short and then floated in for Marc-Oliver Kempf to head the hosts into the lead in the 10th minute.

Como dominated but Milan leveled on the stroke of halftime when it was awarded a penalty after Rabiot was brought down by Kempf and Christopher Nkunku’s spot kick squirmed under the body of Jean Butez.

Milan turned the match around completely 10 minutes into the second half. Rafael Leão controlled a crossfield pass and then cut inside before lifting the ball over for Rabiot to chest down and volley across into the bottom right corner.

And Rabiot sealed the match shortly before full time when Niclas Füllkrug headed a ball back to the France midfielder and he drilled hard and low into the near corner.

Bologna ended a miserable run as it fought back to win 3-2 at relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in a match full of spectacular goals.

Bologna hadn’t won since November and got off to a poor start when it gave away the ball in the opposition penalty area and Antoine Bernède raced almost from box to box before laying it off for Gift Orban to fire home.

Riccardo Orsolini curled in an equalizer following a smart free kick and equally impressive goals from Jens Odgaard and Santiago Castro put Bologna 3-1 up at halftime.

Bologna midfielder Remo Marco Freuler accidentally turned a cross into his own net in the 71st minute.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Verona's Gift Orban, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Santiago Castro (9), right, celebrates goal 1-3 during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Marc-Oliver Kempf, center, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz, left, and AC Milan's Luka Modric in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)