Apr 23, 2017
Phillies hit three straight homers, beat Braves
Cesar Hernandez, Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera hit consecutive homers in the eighth, Zach Eflin threw seven sharp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
The Canadian Press
PHILADELPHIA — Cesar Hernandez, Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera hit consecutive homers in the eighth, Zach Eflin threw seven sharp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
Matt Kemp went deep for the Braves, who have lost six in a row after winning five straight.
Pinch-hitter Michael Saunders lined a double to right leading off the bottom of the eighth off reliever Arodys Vizcaino (1-1). Hernandez followed with a drive to right for his fourth homer and a 3-1 lead. Altherr hit Vizcaino's next pitch into Philadelphia's bullpen in right-centre. Lefty Ian Krol entered and Herrera connected on a 3-2 pitch the opposite-way to left-centre to make it 5-1.
It was the eighth time in franchise history the Phillies hit three straight homers and first since June 13, 2008 when Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell went back-to-back-to-back at St. Louis.
Eflin gave up one run and three hits in seven sharp innings in his second start since replacing injured righty Clay Buchholz.
Joey Rodriguez (1-0) got two outs in the eighth to earn the win and Hector Neris finished with a shaky ninth. Neris allowed one run and left the bases loaded.
The Phillies have won five of six to even their record at 9-9.
Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz struck out nine in seven innings, allowing one run and four hits.
Kemp drove Eflin's first pitch in the seventh, a 92 mph fastball, out to right-centre for his third homer and a 1-0 lead.
Foltynewicz allowed only one hit before Daniel Nava lined a one-out single to left in the seventh. Brock Stassi followed with a single on a 0-2 pitch and Freddy Galvis hit an RBI single to tie it at 1-1.
BRING THE BROOMS
The Phillies earned their first three-game sweep since Aug. 12-14, 2016 against Colorado. ... They swept a three-game set against Atlanta last July 4-6.
ROSTER MOVE
The Braves recalled RHP Matt Wisler from Triple-A Gwinnett and optioned RHP Aaron Blair. Wisler joins Atlanta's bullpen after making 45 starts for Atlanta in 2015-16.
UP NEXT
Braves: After an off day, RHP Julio Teheran (1-1, 3.52 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series at the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
Phillies: Following a day off, RHP Vince Velasquez (0-2, 7.20) takes the mound Tuesday night vs. the Miami Marlins.
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