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Sports

Heyward has big night as Braves roll past Phillies

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Atlanta, GA – Jason Heyward went 5-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 7-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Heyward finished with four extra base hits, collecting three doubles and a solo home run.

Freddie Freeman and Evan Gattis each added two hits apiece for Atlanta. Gattis was 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored, while Freeman went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and two walks.

Braves starting pitcher David Hale (1-0) picked up his first major league win as he threw six innings and gave up one run on seven hits. He recorded five strikeouts without a walk in his second start of the season, and helped Atlanta to its fifth win in its last eight games.

"I was a little more relaxed, but still nervous. I just kept the ball down and it turned out all right," Hale said of his second major league start. "Within, what, have I been here 25 days or something, I get to see a pennant celebration, two calls and a big league victory. It's pretty incredible."

Jimmy Rollins was the bright spot for Philadelphia, as he went 3-for-4 with a double. Eric Kratz was 2-for-4, while Cody Asche went 1-for-4 and scored the Phillies' only run.

Tyler Cloyd (2-7) threw one-plus innings and surrendered all seven Atlanta runs on eight hits. He walked and struck out two for the Phillies, who have now lost seven of their last eight.

"I just wasn't executing," Cloyd said. "It was just bad. I wasn't executing any pitches, and they hit the ball hard. I wasn't doing my job."

Cloyd knocked in the lone run for Philadelphia on a fielder's choice in the top of the second inning.

Heyward led off the game with a first-pitch homer off Cloyd, setting the pace for a big inning. Elliot Johnson then singled to left, stole his 22nd base of the season, and scored on Freeman's double to left center. Gattis knocked in his first RBI with a single to center, and a Cesar Hernandez error allowed him to reach second. After Cloyd struck out Brian McCann, Chris Johnson added a double to left to score Gattis, and Jordan Schafer singled to center two batters later to wrap up a five-run bottom of the first for Atlanta.

Philadelphia scratched their only run across in the top of the second. Asche and Kratz hit back-to-back singles before Freddy Galvis grounded out on a hit back to Hale. Cloyd then grounded out to third to allow Asche to score.

Heyward led off the bottom of the second with a double and Elliot Johnson followed with a walk before Gattis doubled to plate them both.

That wrapped up the scoring, as the Phillies' bullpen held off Atlanta through the remainder of the game.

Game Notes

Freeman has now hit safely in 18 of the last 21 games in which he has had an at-bat ... The Braves lead the season series against Phillies, 9-7 ... Phillies are 6-22 in their last 28 road games ... Atlanta's victory tied them with the St. Louis Cardinals for the best record in the National League at 94-65 ... Heyward's lead-off homer was his third of the season as well as his career.