The Phillies continued to slug their way to victory on Tuesday night. They hit four solo home runs and got a terrific start from rookie Zach Eflin en route to a 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
Eflin pitched a complete game in his fifth big-league start for his first career win in the majors.
Maikel Franco homered for the third straight game. He leads the Phillies with 16.
The Phillies have won three in a row and seven of their last eight.
The Phillies have abused Braves starting pitching for 12 runs and 13 extra-base hits the past two games. Six of those extra-base hits have been home runs.
Starting pitching report
Eflin’s complete game was just the Phillies’ second of the season and first since Vince Velasquez did it on April 14. A Phillies’ starter has gone more than seven innings just three times this season and two of those performances have come in the last two days. Jerad Eickhoff did it in beating the Braves on Monday.
Eflin scattered six hits over nine innings. He walked none and struck out six. He needed just 92 pitches to complete his gem.
Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz was racked for eight hits, including four solo homers, and five runs in 5 2/3 innings.
At the plate
Peter Bourjos, Cody Asche, Tommy Joseph and Franco all homered for the Phillies.
Bourjos has hit in 14 straight games at a .463 clip (25 for 54).
The Phillies are hitting .317 (160 for 505) over the last 14 games. That’s tops in the majors over than span.
Ender Inciarte homered for Atlanta in the seventh inning to break up Eflin’s shutout bid.
Atlanta is averaging just 3.37 runs per game, lowest in the majors.
In the field
The Phillies turned four double plays behind Eflin.
Hey now, you’re an All Star
Odubel Herrera was the lone Phillie selected to the National League All-Star team (see story).
Health check
Aaron Altherr is expected to return in August (see story).
Trade season
Nothing is hot, but GM Matt Klentak is working the phones (see story).
Up next
The series concludes on Wednesday afternoon. Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 4.06) pitches for the Phillies against right-hander Tyrell Jenkins (0-1, 5.79).