PHILADELPHIA — Matt Olson tied a franchise record when he hit his 51st home run of the season during the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
With their latest long-hit fest, the Braves moved one step closer to their sixth straight NL East pennant. his 7-6 victory in 10 innings over the Phillies reduced their magic number to two, which means they can clinch the division with a win in Wednesday night’s game.
“It’s like we’re looking forward to the celebration,” exclaimed Puerto Rico’s Eddie Rosario. “I was very lucky. We’ve been celebrating quite a bit since I arrived in Atlanta. “I’m ready to do it again.”
• The remaining games (17): They visit the Phillies (1), they visit the Marlins (3), vs. Phillies (3), visit Nationals (4), vs. Cubs (3), vs. National (3)
• Updated standings: The Braves are 16 games ahead of the Phillies in the NL East race. Atlanta is currently the top division leader in the Old Circuit, which means they will go straight to the Division Series — which begins on October 7 — and face the winner of the Wild Card Series between No. 4 and No. 5.
• Magic number: To qualify for the postseason: 0; for the division title: 2
Olson’s 51 home runs tied the franchise record set by Andruw Jones in 2005. The Braves hit three home runs in the first five innings of Tuesday’s game to increase their season total to 281, more than of two than the previous one. the Dodgers are set in 2019.
The Braves are on pace to finish the season with 311 home runs, which would be four more than the Major League record set by the 2009 Twins.
“Are we doing it now?” Braves manager Travis d’Arnaud asked about the collective Old Circuit home run record. “You don’t realize when you’re doing it because it feels so normal, and it’s a situation we live with all year.”
The two-run homer of Ronald Acuña Jr. against right-handed starter Zack Wheeler in the fifth inning gave the Braves a new National League home run record with 280, surpassing the 2019 Dodgers. three-run homer from Wheeler.
Acuña needs three more home runs to reach the fourth 40 home run and 40 stolen base season in Major League history. It was also the first 40-60 season, as he had 65 steals. No one stole more than 46 bases in a campaign in which they hit 40 home runs.
Olson leads the Major Leagues in home runs and RBIs. No other player has hit more than 44 home runs in 2023. The Braves first baseman has 128 RBIs, 25 more than the next player on the list. He needs seven more RBIs to tie the modern franchise record set by Eddie Mathews in 1953. Gary Sheffield set the Atlanta club record when he drove in 132 runs in 2003.
