Albies hits slam, Braves rout Phillies

♦ Atlanta gets back a game in the division standings over Washington.

PHILADELPHIA — 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 6½-game lead over Washington.

J.T. Realmuto and Sean Rodriguez hit two-run homers for the Phillies, who fell 7½ 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.

Streaking

Acuña extended his onbase 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 10day 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.

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.

Chris Szagola Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies reacts to his grand slam in the dugout during the third inning of Saturday’s baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies.