Braves pound five homers, trip Phillies


Reuters | Updated: 05-07-2019 08:46 IST | Created: 05-07-2019 08:43 IST
Braves pound five homers, trip Phillies
Image Credit: Wikimedia

Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson hit two home runs, and each of the team's infielders belted a homer as the Braves overcame an early four-run deficit to beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 12-6 on Thursday. Atlanta also got home runs from the second baseman Ozzie Albies, first baseman Freddie Freeman and third baseman Josh Donaldson. It was the first time all four of the team's infielders had homered in the same game since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966.

Swanson finished 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Nick Markakis also had three hits for the Braves. The offensive onslaught helped Atlanta win the final two contests of the three-game series between the two National League East rivals. The Braves improved to 6-1 in rubber games at SunTrust Park this year.

The Phillies scored four times in the first inning against Mike Soroka, but they could not tack on more runs against the rookie before he exited with two outs in the fifth inning. Soroka, who was lifted after throwing 100 pitches, gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks with six strikeouts. The winning pitcher was reliever A.J. Minter (3-4), who threw a scoreless seventh inning.

Philadelphia starter Zach Eflin (7-8) lasted only three innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and two walks. He fanned three. Philadelphia roared to the early lead on an RBI single from Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto and a two-run single from Cesar Hernandez.

The Braves got two runs in the bottom of the first on Swanson's solo homer and a run-scoring double by Nick Markakis. Atlanta tied the game with two runs in the second. Ronald Acuna Jr. produced an RBI single and scored on Swanson's double.

The Braves took the lead for good in the third inning when Albies hit a long three-run homer to right, his 14th long ball of the year. Freeman and Donaldson went back-to-back in the sixth. It was the 23rd homer for Freeman, the 17th for Donaldson.

Philadelphia scored twice in the sixth. Sean Rodriguez hit a pinch-hit homer, his second, and Rhys Hoskins doubled home a run. Swanson added a three-run homer in the eighth inning, his 17th.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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