ATLANTA — Centerfielder Odubel Herrera emphatically changed his luck against Atlanta’s Julio Teheran with two extra-base hits, including his 12th home run, to help the Phillies rally to a 5-2 win over the Braves on Tuesday night at SunTrust Park.
Entering the game, Herrera was hitting only .190 against Teheran, with no extra-base hits. He was 1 for 2 with a homer, a walk and two runs scored against the Atlanta ace and added two hits against Atlanta relievers. Herrera is batting .363 (16 for 44) over his last 11 games.
Herrera patiently worked a walk, stole second and scored the game’s first run on a double by Nick Williams in the fourth inning. He came back in the fifth to connect for his 12th homer, a two-run shot that saw him hammer a low pitch into the Chop House restaurant located at the top of the right-field seats.
The Phillies continued their mastery over the Braves. They are 10-2 against Atlanta this season.
Starting pitching report
Zach Eflin (1-3), who was recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley to make his first start since May 28, pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. He also went 1 for 3 at the plate and drove in a run. Eflin won for the first time since July 22, 2016, when he beat the Pirates.
Bullpen report
Hoby Milner pitched a scoreless eighth and Hector Neris worked the ninth to earn his 12th save.
At the plate
Cesar Hernandez was 1 for 4 with a double and a walk. He has reached base safely in 19 of his last 20 games. He has reached base at least twice in each of his last 10 games, the longest streak by a Phillies player since Shane Victorino did it in 10 straight in 2011.
Williams was 2 for 4 with an RBI double, giving him 22 RBIs since the All-Star break.
MLB
In the field
Freddy Galvis made two stellar plays. He reached as far as possible toward the hole to snag a throw from Eflin and turned a double play in the first inning. In the third, he ranged into left field and made a nice over-the-shoulder catch.
Streaking
Second baseman Hernandez led off the game with a double to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Herrera extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the fifth.
Freak injury
Atlanta lost shortstop Johan Camargo in a freak injury. When taking the field — and trying to avoid stepping on the foul line — Camargo tripped and fell, hurting his right knee. Camargo had to be helped off the field and was replaced by Jace Peterson. Camargo was diagnosed with a hyperextended right knee and was scheduled to have an MRI on Tuesday night (see story).
Up next
The Phillies finish a quick two-game series in Atlanta on Wednesday at 7:35 p.m. The Phillies send Jerad Eickhoff (2-7, 4.56) to the mound against Atlanta rookie Sean Newcomb (1-6, 4.61), a rematch of the July 29 game won, 4-3, by the Phillies. Eickhoff allowed three runs (one earned) in five innings and did not figure in the decision.