Braves power past Phillies, win 9-2

ATLANTA — Josh Donaldson and Austin Riley hit three-run homers off Nick Pivetta, and the Atlanta Braves solidified their lead in the National League’s East Division by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 9-2 Wednesday night.

Donaldson’s homer gave Atlanta a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Riley’s blast was part of Atlanta’s six-run sixth, when Matt Joyce had a pinchhit, two-run homer off Juan Nicasio.

Atlanta, the reigning NL East champion, leads second-place Philadelphia by 5 1/2 games in the division standings after splitting the first two games of the series.

First-year Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper hit a linedrive homer to left field in the sixth. It was the 200th home run and 1,000th hit of the former Washington Nationals slugger’s MLB career. The Phillies said it marked the first time in major league history a player reached those milestones in hits and homers on the same swing.

Harper, apparently aware of the significance of the homer, signaled for the ball as he ran around the bases. He had his wish granted by a fan who threw it back onto the field.

Rookie pitcher Bryse Wilson (1-0) allowed two runs in six innings to give Atlanta’s rotation an important boost in only the fourth MLB start of his career, including three this season.

Mike Foltynewicz, a 2018 All-Star, was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett on June 22 and Kevin Gausman was placed on the injured list on June 11 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Those exits left the rotation thin, even with the recent addition of Dallas Keuchel.

Wilson’s outing could impact the team’s trade outlook. There has been much speculation the Braves could attempt to add another veteran starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline.

Wilson, 21, faded in the sixth, when he allowed Harper’s 16th homer of the season, Rhys Hoskins’ double to left field and J.T. Realmuto’s run-scoring single to left. Realmuto was thrown out at second to end the inning after Hoskins scored to cut Atlanta’s lead to 3-2.

The Braves pulled away with seven hits in the bottom of the inning.

Pivetta (4-3) allowed six runs, five of them earned, in 5 2/3 innings.