Braves outlast Phillies 6-5 in 11 innings in opener of key NL East series

ATLANTA (AP) — Drake Baldwin doubled to center field in the 11th inning to score Ha-Seong Kim from first base and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 on Friday night in the opening game of a key NL East series.

The first-place Braves extended their lead over the Phillies to five games. The teams split a four-game series in Philadelphia that began last Friday.

Luis Arraez's single to left field off Didier Fuentes (7-2) in the 11th drove in designated runner Garrett Stubbs to give Philadelphia a 5-4 lead. Kim's single off Brooks Raley (5-6) in the bottom of the inning drove in Ozzie Albies to tie it. Baldwin followed with the winning double.

Phillies right-hander Jonathan Bowlan blew a 3-2 lead in the ninth. Bowlan gave up a one-out single to Mike Yastrzemski. Pinch-runner DaShawn Keirsey Jr., who was recalled before the game, scored from first on Sean Murphy’s single up the middle and center fielder Derek Hill’s fielding error.

Aaron Nola gave up homers to Matt Olson in the first and Austin Riley in the seventh. Braves left-hander Chris Sale allowed three runs on only three hits in seven innings but struggled with two outs in the second. Edmundo Sosa singled before Sale walked Bryan De La Cruz and hit J.T. Realmuto with a pitch to load the bases. Derek Hill doubled off the center-field wall to drive in three runs.

The Braves placed outfielder Lane Thomas (strained left intercostal muscle) on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday.

There was a pregame ceremony for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. A survivor of the attacks in New York, Atlanta resident Kayla Bergeron, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The start of the game was delayed 47 minutes by rain.

Phillies manager Don Mattingly said after the game LHP Jesús Luzardo would not make his scheduled start Saturday night due to left shoulder stiffness. A replacement starter was not named. RHP Tyler Mahle (5-10, 4.05) is Atlanta's scheduled starter.

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Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson follows through on a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale delivers to a Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

State and local law enforcement officers participate in a 25th anniversary ceremony for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Chase Shugart warms up under rain threatening clouds before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola delivers to an Atlanta Braves batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Angel Martínez hit a two-run homer and his double in the ninth inning keyed the game-winning rally as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Friday night.

The Guardians moved two games ahead of Toronto in the race for the AL’s third wild-card spot.

Martínez gave the Guardians a 2-1 lead in the seventh with his 15th homer of the season.

After the Twins tied it on Kalen Culpepper's RBI single in the seventh, Martínez hit a one-out double off Yoendrys Gómez (2-3) that moved Travis Bazzana to third. Bazzana scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Gómez and Brayan Rocchio brought home two more with a double.

Hunter Gaddis (4-3) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Cade Smith retired the side in the ninth for his 36th save.

Twins starter Taj Bradley gave up one hit and four walks while striking out six in six scoreless innings.

Parker Messick held the Twins to three hits and one run with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Bradley walked the leadoff hitter in each of the first three innings and allowed Bazzana's leadoff single in the fourth, but the Guardians didn't get a runner past second base.

The Twins didn't do much against Messick, with just two hits through the first five innings. But the hits were back-to-back in the second inning — Kody Clemens' single and Royce Lewis' double — and produced the game's first run.

The Guardians will use RHP Daniel Espino (0-0, 2.70 ERA) as an opener for the middle game of the series on Saturday, with LHP Joey Cantillo (9-9, 4.00) expected to pitch the bulk of the innings. The Twins will start LHP Connor Prielipp (4-7, 5.25).

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Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez bats against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Twins' Kaelen Culpepper reacts after being hit by a Cleveland Guardians pitch during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley throws to the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)