Acuña homers for Braves, Mahle turns in another stellar outing in 12-2 rout of Phillies

ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. homered to spark an eight-run fourth inning and Tyler Mahle turned in another stellar outing to lead the Atlanta Braves to their second straight victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, 12-2 on Saturday night.

The Braves had to rally three times in 11 innings to win the series opener between the two top NL East teams. This one was a lot easier.

Acuña hit a towering shot that barely cleared the wall in front of the Phillies bullpen off Brooks Raley (5-7), who took the loss for the second straight night. Acuña tacked on a run-scoring single to close out the big inning.

Philadelphia was one out from escaping the inning with no further damage. Ozzie Albies walked and Michael Harris II singled before the Phillies, going with a bullpen game after Jesús Luzardo was scratched with a tight shoulder, called in Grant Holman for his first big league appearance of the season.

Mauricio Dubón had a two-run single, Drake Baldwin brought in two more runs with a double off the wall, and some sloppy play by the Phillies led to five unearned runs in the fourth. Bryson Stott had a throwing error on a routine play that would've ended the inning, and another run scored on a wild pitch.

Mahle (5-10) has pitched brilliantly for the Braves since the journeyman was acquired ahead of the trade deadline. He surrendered only a first-inning homer to Bryce Harper over seven innings, improving to 3-1 with a a 1.25 ERA in seven starts with Atlanta.

He allowed just six hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Harris added a three-run homer in the eighth off Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs.

RHP Grant Holmes (9-5, 3.46) will try to give the Braves a sweep on the series when he takes the mound Sunday against Philadelphia RHP Andrew Painter (3-9, 5.71).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brooks Raley, right reacts after getting relieved by interim manager Don Mattingly during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Drake Baldwin, right, rounds first base after hitting a two-run double against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Drake Baldwin hits a two-run double against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) flips his bat after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

CORON, Philippines (AP) — Rescuers retrieved more remains from a passenger ferry in the Philippine that was gutted by fire, bringing the death toll on Saturday to 76 with 13 missing.

Forty-three people survived the fire on Wednesday night among the 132 on board.

The ferry sailed from the capital, Manila, and was some 39 kilometers (24 miles) from its destination in Coron, in southwestern Palawan province, when the fire erupted.

The cause has not been determined but the coast guard spokesperson quoted a survivor as saying it may have started from the cargo hold. The survivor recounted hearing a blast, with smoke and fire quickly spreading, fanned by the winds, officials said.

Tents were put up in the Port of Borac in Coron, where body bags were brought down from a ship that transported them from the ferry.

Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, the coast guard spokesperson, said authorities were looking for the ship's captain, who reportedly survived but is not listed among the survivors.

The multiagency maritime safety and criminal investigations will look into all angles, and the possible liability of the captain and crew, she added.

Cayabyab said survivors recounted the fire spread quickly, with no time to get life jackets. A tarpaulin that shielded the open areas of the ship from the rain “may be a possible contributing factor but we can’t determine now if they were trapped inside,” she added.

Investigators will also check if fire emergency procedures were followed, including if the captain sounded an alarm or gave a warning and instructions, and if the crew assisted the passengers.

Ferries are frequently used for transport in the Philippine archipelago. Sea accidents are not uncommon due to storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.

In 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, killing more than 4,300 people in the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster.

Cerojano reported from Manila, Philippines.

In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, ferry MV June Aster smolders off Palawan province, western Philippines, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, days after it caught fire. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

Lira Daco, left, wipes tears beside husband Menandro as they wait for news of their missing daughter in Coron, Palawan province, western Philippines, Friday Sept. 11, 2026, days after the ferry MV June Aster caught fire off Coron. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

This photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard shows damages on the ferry MV June Aster off Coron, Palawan province, western Philippines, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, days after it caught fire.(Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

This photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard shows the ferry MV June Aster off Palawan province, western Philippines, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, days after it caught fire. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

In this handout provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, rescuers transfer the remains of victims of the recent fire on the MV June Aster ferry on Friday Sept. 11, 2026 off Coron, Palawan province, western Philippines. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)