Braves beat Phillies; magic number is 8
PHILADELPHIA — Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer, Dallas Keuchel struck out eight batters in six innings and the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 Wednesday night.
The Braves reduced their magic number for clinching the division title to eight. The second-place Washington Nationals beat the host Minnesota Twins 6-2.
The Phillies entered two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the NL’s second wildcard spot.
Keuchel (8-5) gave up one run and three hits to win his fifth straight start. Chris Martin struck out the side on nine pitches in the seventh, Shane Greene worked the eighth and Mark Melancon finished for his 10th save in 10 tries with Atlanta.
Melancon got some defensive help to close it. With two runners on and one out, shortstop Dansby Swanson made a leaping catch on pinch-hitter Brad Miller’s liner up the middle. Third baseman Josh Donaldson then reached over the dugout railing and snared Maikel Franco’s foul pop.
Phillies starter Zach Eflin (8-12) allowed three unearned runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Donaldson reached on shortstop Jean Segura’s throwing error with one out in the fourth, and Matt Joyce followed with a single. After pinch-hitter Rafael Ortega struck out, Flowers drove a 2-2 fastball into the left-field seats to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.
Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins hit consecutive singles to start the bottom half of the inning. Harper scored on Scott Kingery’s fielder’s choice grounder to cut it to 3-1.
The Phillies had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth, but Harper grounded into a double play.
Harper saved a run in the ninth when he made a perfect, no-hop throw to the plate to retire Austin Riley trying to score from second on a single by Ozzie Albies.
Braves left fielder Johan Camargo left the game after fouling a ball off his right leg below the knee in the fourth inning.