Foltynewicz sharp again, Braves club Phillies
PHILADELPHIA >> Mike Foltynewicz threw seven impressive innings, Josh Donaldson and Ronald Acuna Jr. hit homers and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 Monday night.
Atlanta increased its lead over Washington to 9 ½ games and reduced its magic number to 10 with 17 games remaining. The Phillies entered two games behind the Cubs for the second wild-card spot in the NL.
Foltynewicz (6-5) retired the first 13 batters before Corey Dickerson went deep in the fifth. He gave up three hits, one run and struck out seven. The right-hander won his fifth straight decision. The Braves have won his last 10 starts, including seven in a row since he returned from Triple-A.
Aaron Nola (12-5) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings. The Phillies have lost their ace’s last four starts.
Acuna hit Nola’s second pitch of the game out to leftcenter for his 38th homer. Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman had RBI singles in the second to make it 4-0.
Donaldson ripped an opposite-field, three-run shot off Nick Pivetta in the seventh to give the Braves a 7-1 lead. Donaldson has 37 homers, four shy of tying his career-high. He hit 41 when he was AL MVP in 2014 with Toronto.
Cesar Hernandez hit a solo homer off Josh Tomlin in the ninth to cap the scoring.
HR DERBY
The Braves have hit 229
PHILLY TURNAROUND
The Braves have won three of four in Philadelphia since getting swept in a three-game series to start the season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
BRAVES >> OF Nick Markakis (fractured wrist) is expected to take live batting practice with the team on Wednesday. He could return as early as Friday depending on how he feels after swinging . .... OF Ender Inciarte (hamstring strain) stayed in Atlanta. He’s jogging but there’s no timetable for his return. PHILLIES >> OF Bryce Harper was back in the lineup after two games. He was hit on the right hand Friday and pinchhit Sunday.