Instant Replay: Phillies 4, Pirates 0

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PITTSBURGH — Rookie Zach Eflin pitched his first major-league shutout in his seventh career start Friday night as the Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-0, to open a three-game series at PNC Park.
 
The 22-year-old allowed three hits, did not walk a batter and struck out six. He needed 100 pitches to finish his second complete game.
 
All-Star centerfielder Odubel Herrera broke out of his slump with three hits and two runs scored and catcher Cameron Rupp hit a two-run home run.
 
Herrera had two singles and a double after going 4 for 41 in his previous 11 games.
 
Coming off a 2-5 homestand, the Phillies started a stretch in which they play 16 of 19 games on the road with a win. The Phillies were a combined 0-6 in Pittsburgh during the previous two seasons.
 
Starting pitching report
Eflin made his sixth straight quality start since being rocked for nine runs in 2 2/3 innings in his major-league debut by the Blue Jays on June 14 at Toronto. He has allowed six earned runs in his last four road starts.
 
He faced just two batters over the minimum.
 
At the plate
Herrera singled to lead off the sixth inning and scored the game’s first run on a single by Rupp. Herrera then doubled and scored on Andres Blanco’s single in the seventh to make it 2-0.
 
Rupp’s two-run shot, his 10th of the season, off Jon Niese in the ninth inning capped the scoring. Rupp had two hits and three RBIs.
 
Second baseman Freddy Galvis also had two hits, as did Blanco, who replaced third baseman Maikel Franco in the bottom of the third inning. Franco was struck in the left wrist in the first inning by a pitch from Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole and was removed for what the Phillies said were precautionary reasons (see story).
 
Eflin hit Pirates centerfielder Andrew McCutchen in the rear end with a pitch in the bottom of the first inning, causing home plate umpire Tony Randazzo to warn both teams. There were no further incidents.
 
Up next
The Phillies have two games remaining with the Pirates in the three-game series and will face a pair of rookies starting pitchers.
 
Saturday afternoon — RHP Aaron Nola (5-8, 4.41) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 6.75).
 
Sunday afternoon — RHP Vince Velasquez (8-2, 3.15) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.44).

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