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 on Monday night.
Atlanta increased its lead over Washington to 9½ 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 left-center 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.
PHILLY TURNAROUND
The Braves have won three of four in Philadelphia since getting swept in a three-game series to start the season.
Sports on 09/10/2019