The Latest Breaking News from Dansby Swanson

ATLANTA — Bryce Harper had barely finished circling the bases — and shouting “Let’s Go!” at his teammates in the dugout — when Nick Nelson began trotting in from the bullpen, an unlikely closer in a ballpark that hasn’t been kind to Phillies closers.

MIAMI — Sandy Alcantara was masterful on the mound once again. The offense, finally, came up with clutch hits.

NEW YORK — At the start of the fifth inning, the Braves didn’t even have a hit. By the end of it, they hadn’t scored in their past 18 innings dating to Tuesday’s doubleheader and seemed in danger of a disappointing flight home.

After missing what should have been a called third strike, home plate umpire Chad Fairchild owned up to his mistake.

In the season’s first meeting against the defending champion Braves, it was a former Mets catcher who tormented his original team of seven years.

"My bad!"

ATLANTA — In superstar Ronald Acuña’s return, the Braves defeated the Cubs, 5-1, on Thursday at Truist Park. In its sixth try, Atlanta (9-11) won its first series of the season by taking two of three from Chicago.

The Braves are entering a title-defense campaign for the second time since moving to Atlanta in 1966. Much has changed since the last time they played a meaningful contest. That was Game 6 of the World Series, when Max Fried tossed a gem, Jorge Soler put a pitch into orbit…

Pitchers and catchers aren’t reporting. Baseball remains on hold. Most of the lockout involves quibbles over money, but one of the players’ planks is halfway high-minded.