Instant Replay: Braves 7, Phillies 1

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Aaron Nola’s streak of five straight starts without giving up a home run ended Friday night.
 
The Atlanta Braves tagged Nola for a pair of two-run homers en route to beating the Phillies, 7-1, at Citizens Bank Park.
 
The Braves hit three two-run homers in the game, two by Freddie Freeman.
 
Ironically, the Braves entered the game with just 15 homers, by far the fewest in the majors.
 
The Phillies are 24-18 but just 2-2 against the Braves, who have the worst record in the National League at 11-30.
 
Starting pitching report
Nola was 3-0 with a 1.22 ERA in his previous five starts, all Phillies’ wins. He did not pitch all that badly. He allowed a bunt base hit in the third and a two-out, first-pitch, two-run homer to Freeman.
 
In the seventh, Nola gave up three unearned runs after a Maikel Franco error. Two of the runs came on a two-out homer.
 
In all, Nola gave up seven hits, two walks (one intentional) and he struck out six.
 
The two home runs were a season high. In fact, Nola had given up just three in eight starts coming into the game.
 
Atlanta right-hander Matt Wisler gave up just one run in 6 2/3 innings to collect the win. He struck out six.
 
Bullpen report
Brett Oberholtzer gave up Freeman’s second two-run homer. It came in the top of the ninth.
 
Three Atlanta relievers combined on 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
 
At the plate
Franco’s double helped set up the Phillies’ only run, which was knocked in by Ryan Howard on a groundout in the first inning.
 
Howard went 0 for 3 to drop to .164 on the season and .095 (4 for 42) in May. He did draw a walk in the eighth, the 694th of his career, tying him with Willie Jones for seventh on the Phillies’ all-time list.
 
Nick Markakis had a two-run homer for Atlanta. Freeman hit two of them.
 
The Braves have just 18 homers on the season. Freeman has eight of them.
 
In the field
Franco made two errors and almost a third. His error in the seventh set up three unearned runs.
 
Minor matters
Top prospect J.P. Crawford was promoted to Triple A Lehigh Valley from Double A Reading earlier in the day.
 
Crawford, a 21-year-old shortstop, was the Phillies’ first-round draft pick in 2013. He hit .264 with a .370 on-base percentage in 122 games at Double A, dating to last season. He struck out 66 times and walked 79 times.
 
“He’s ready for the next stage in his development, ready for a new challenge,” general manager Matt Klentak said. “He controls the strike zone well, particularly for someone who has typically been one of the youngest players in his league.”
 
Crawford becomes the second-youngest player in the International League behind 19-year-old Atlanta prospect Ozzie Albies.
 
On the minor-league injury front, the Phillies hope to have Cornelius Randolph back in the lineup at Single A Lakewood sometime during the first week of June. The team’s top pick in last year’s draft has been sidelined with a left shoulder strain.
 
Up next
The series continues on Saturday afternoon. Lefty Adam Morgan (1-1, 6.41) opposes Atlanta right-hander Williams Perez (1-1, 4.78).

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