Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuna Jr. each homered and right-hander Tyler Mahle produced another strong start to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 12-2 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night, clinching the three-game series.
The Braves (88-61) now hold a six-game lead over two-time division champion Philadelphia (82-67) in the National League East. Atlanta reduced its magic number to win the division to seven games. The Braves are 9-3 against the Phillies.
Harris was 4-for-5 with a three-run homer, his 25th, and two runs. Acuna was 3-for-3 with a home run and a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs.
Mahle (6-10) matched his season high by pitching seven innings and allowed one run on six hits with three strikeouts. He has a 1.25 ERA in seven starts since joining Atlanta.
Tim Mayza was Philadelphia’s replacement starter for Jesus Luzardo, who had to be skipped because of shoulder soreness. It was the fifth time the left-hander had been used as an opener. He pitched three scoreless innings with two hits and four strikeouts before being lifted.
But the five ensuing relievers allowed a combined 11 hits, five walks and 12 runs (six earned).
Philadelphia scored a run in the first inning when Bryce Harper hit his 28th homer, a 426-foot solo shot to center field. It was the 391st home run in Harper’s career, 48th against Atlanta.
The Braves sent 12 batters to the plate in the fourth inning and scored eight times to seize the momentum. Atlanta tied the game 1-1 on a solo shot by Acuna, his 17th, off Brooks Raley (5-7), who took the loss.
The Braves tacked on two more runs when Mauricio Dubon lined a two-run single to left field off reliever Grant Holman. They added another run on third baseman Bryson Stott’s throwing error, Drake Baldwin followed with a two-run double and Acuna completed the uprising with an RBI single to center.
Justin Crawford hit a solo homer, his third, for Philadelphia in the eighth.
