By Sam Bush
The Phillies have somehow won their first three games of the season with superb pitching and only seven runs.
Alec Bohm hit a tie-breaking single and the Phillies beat the defending NL East champion Atlanta Braves 2-1.
The pitching trio of Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Zack Eflin surrendered only three runs, 11 hits and one walk in 20 2/3 innings against an Atlanta lineup that led the majors in 2020 with 556 hits.
The Phillies bullpen, which posted a 7.06 ERA in 2020, didn’t yield a run in 7 1/3 innings.
Eflin went seven strong innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while striking out eight. The lone mistake he made was hanging a curveball to Travis d’Arnaud, who pierced the winds blowing into Citizens Bank Park with a tying, solo homer in the seventh that ended Atlanta’s 19-inning scoring drought.
THE PHILS regained the lead in the eighth as Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper and Bohm hit consecutive singles off Chris Martin (0-1). Hoskins scored just ahead of the throw from center fielder Cristian Pache.
Atlanta starter Ian Anderson wiggled in and out of trouble early, striking out seven hitters while allowing four hits. Andrew Knapp homered in the second.
Hector Neris recorded his first save, dodging trouble caused by two-out walks to Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna. D’Arnaud flied out to end it.
