Five homers help Braves power past Phillies, 15-3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Atlanta used the long ball in a big way as Freddie Freeman, Abraham Almonte, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Joc Peterson all homered to lead the Braves past the Phillies in a 15-3 rout on Saturday night.

The win allowed the Braves to move back into a tie for second place in the National League East with Philadelphia with identical 48-49 records. It is the fourth time this year that the Braves have hit five or more homers in a game

Almonte had three hits with three RBIs as the Braves chased Phillies starter Vince Velasquez after just 2 1/3 innings and six earned runs. In four July starts, Velasquez (3-5) has allowed 19 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings (10.91 ERA).

In the first, Freeman crushed a Velasquez fastball off the façade of the second deck in right field for a two-run homer. Freeman, the defending National League MVP, has overcome a slow start to get Atlanta back in the NL East race. Since June 23, Freeman has a .442 batting average with seven homers, 22 runs scored and 18 RBIs.

Almonte golfed a hanging inside slider deep into the bleachers in right center for a solo homer in the second for a 3-0 lead. In the third, Freeman scored on Dansby Swanson’s double that chased Velasquez after just 2 1/3 innings and six runs allowed.

Two hitters later, Almonte singled off reliever Brandon Kintzler to score Austin Riley and Swanson for a 6-0 Braves lead.

Albies hit a three-run homer off Phillies reliever Enyel De Los Santos in the eighth. Two hitters later, Riley crushed a two-run shot off a 68 mph pitch by position player Ronald Torreyes that landed in the second deck restaurant in left-center. Peterson hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Torreyes.

The Phillies' best chance to get back in the game was squandered in the fourth. Atlanta starter Drew...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Five-homers-help-Braves-power-past-Phillies-15-3-16337811.php