Phillies Power to Win in Zach Eflin Gem

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Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
Phillies	1	0	0	2	0	2	0	0	x	5

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night to clinch their third straight series victory.

Behind an absolute gem of a start by rookie righty Zach Eflin and their suddenly explosive power bats that produced four home runs, the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves by a 5-1 score on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park in South Philly.

Eflin became the first Phillies starting pitcher in more than two decades to record a complete game as his first career big league victory. The last time that it was done was by Mike Williams, exactly 24 years ago today.

The 22-year old righty threw 65 strikes among his 92 pitches, only one of which was a mistake. Ender Inciarte crushed that one into the right-center field stands leading off the top of the 7th with his first home run of the year.

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He immediately shook that blast off like it didn’t bother him a bit. Eflin (1-0) scattered six hits, walked no one, and struck out six batters in becoming the first Phils rookie since Vance Worley in 2011 to throw a complete game.

By that point in the contest those Phils power bats had already provided him with a 5-0 cushion. Peter Bourjos ripped his 4th homer in the bottom of the 1st to give Eflin an early lead.

Cody Asche led off the bottom of the 4th with his fourth home run to double that lead. Four batters, Freddy Galvis scored Maikel Franco with a sac fly and it was a 3-0 Phillies lead.

In the bottom of the 6th, Franco led things off with his 16th longball, and one batter later it was Tommy Joseph lining his 9th of the season to make it 5-0. All four of the home runs came off Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz.

Foltynewicz (2-3) allowed five earned runs on eight hits across 5.2 innings, striking out five and walking one batter.

Phils’ manager Pete Mackanin was ebullient following the game regarding his young starter: “What an efficient job he did. He was just outstanding. Pounding the strike zone with all his pitches. Good two-seamer. He had everything going for him.”

With the win, the Phillies clinched their third consecutive series victory. They have won nine of 12, and have pulled within seven games of the .500 mark for the first time in three weeks.

The team also learned during the game that center fielder Odubel Herrera was selected as a reserve for the National League in next week’s MLB All-Star Game.

The series and this homestand concludes with a Wednesday afternoon game beginning at 1:05pm. The Braves have scratched their ace and scheduled starting pitcher Julio Teheran due to a minor injury.

Instead the start will go to Atlanta’s #7 prospect, Tyrell Jenkins, who will be making his big league debut. He will be opposed by veteran Jeremy Hellickson for the Fightin’ Phils.

Next: Former Phillies Ace Hamels Earns AL All-Star Nod

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