Harper, Phillies Hear Boos During 15-7 Loss To Braves
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ozzie Albies hit a grand slam, Ronald Acuña Jr., Ender Inciarte and Adam Duvall also homered and the Atlanta Braves routed the Philadelphia Phillies 15-7 Saturday night. The Braves pounded struggling righty Zach Eflin (7-11) for 10 runs in less than three innings. His stats over the past six starts — 10.46 ERA — look worse than the "Saturday Night Special" burgundy, throwback uniforms the Phillies wore for the second time in team history.
They lost 10-5 to the Montreal Expos on May 19, 1979, and didn't wear them again until now.
Max Fried (11-4) allowed four earned and seven hits, striking out six in 5 1/3 innings in his first start since returning from the injury list because of a blister on his left index finger.
The NL East-leading Braves have won two in a row after losing six of eight. They have a 6 ½-game lead over Washington.
J.T. Realmuto and Sean Rodriguez hit two-run homers for the Phillies, who fell 7 ½ games behind Atlanta but remain in the mix in the wild-card race.
Eflin ran into trouble after retiring the first two batters in the second. Tyler Flowers hit a single before Inciarte drove a 1-2 pitch out to right for his third homer in 136 at-bats. Eflin walked Fried and Acuña then launched his 25th homer into Atlanta's bullpen in deep right-center field.
Josh Donaldson had an RBI double to start the scoring in a seven-run third and Albies finished it with a slam off Ranger Suarez on an 0-2 pitch.
Eflin gave up six earned and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.
FRUSTRATED FANS
Bryce Harper heard boos after his third strikeout of the game and 126th of the season. Several E-A-G-L-E-S chants broke out throughout the game.
STREAKING
Acuña extended his on-base streak to 31 games, the longest active streak in the majors.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RF Nick Markakis and SS Dansby Swanson were placed on the 10-day injured list. Markakis suffered a broken left wrist when he was hit by a pitch Friday night. Manager Brian Snitker said Markakis won't need surgery and could return in six to eight weeks. Swanson has a bruised right foot. Snitker is hopeful Swanson will return when he's eligible to come off the injured list. His stint is retroactive to Wednesday.
Phillies: RHP Tommy Hunter was transferred to the 60-day injury list.
UP NEXT
RHP Aaron Nola (8-2, 3.64 ERA) starts for the Phillies and RHP Kevin Gausman (3-5, 5.71) goes for Atlanta in the series finale Sunday.
(Copyright 2019 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
