Phillies power past Braves as Zach Eflin goes the distance for first MLB win

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Final: Phillies 5, Braves 1  ❖  Attendance: 18,426

PHILADELPHIA — It took just 29 batters faced and 92 pitches for Philadelphia Phillies (39-46) rookie RHP Zach Eflin to get through the Atlanta Braves' (28-56) offense Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

Thanks to four solo home runs by right fielder Peter Bourjos (4), left fielder Cody Asche (4), third baseman Maikel Franco (16) and first baseman Tommy Joseph (9) — as well as a sacrifice fly RBI by shortstop Freddy Galvis — Eflin earned his first Major League win in complete game fashion.


Eflin surrendered just one run — a solo home run to former Phillies Rule 5 outfielder Ender Inciarte in the top of the seventh inning. He has a 2.29 ERA and a 13-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last four starts (26 2/3 innings).

"I've said it all along, Eflin's my favorite pitcher," manager Pete Mackanin said. "He had everything going for him. He's got really good movement on his two-seam fastball. He's got outstanding movement with his sinker and he showed that tonight. He had one mistake with Inciarte, but I'll forgive him for that."

Bourjos' solo home run extended his hit streak to 14 games. He is the first Phillie with a hit streak of 14 or more games since franchise hits leader Jimmy Rollins' 15-game streak from June 5-21, 2014.

The Phillies will look for their fourth series sweep of the season in a Wednesday matinee between right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Tyrell Jenkins. Jenkins will be making his first MLB start in place of injured All-Star RHP Julio Teheran, scratched with a right thigh infection (Time: 1:05 p.m.; TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP).


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