Eflin gets first big league win with complete game

Rookie right-hander Zach Eflin needed 92 pitches to finish a complete game and notch his first big league victory on Tuesday night.

The effort helped the Phillies lock down a 5-1 win over Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park.

Helped along by four double plays in his nine innings of work, the 22-year-old Eflin breezed through the night, surrendering just a single run while striking out six and walking none in nine innings of work.

The lone blemish was a solo homer run surrendered to Braves center fielder Ender Enciarte.  It was the former Phillie’s first home run of the season.

The Phillies put on a power display in the contest, slamming four solo homers.  Peter Bourjos got the scoring started with a solo shot in the first inning, his fourth of the year.  Cody Asche added his fourth of the season in the fourth inning.  Freddy Galvis plated another run in that same frame with a sacrifice fly.  Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph would each go deep in the 7th inning.  For Franco it was his 16th home run, while for Joseph it was his 9th.

The last time a Phillie recorded his first big league win with a complete game was on this same date back in 1992 when Mike Williams did so against the Dodgers on the road.

The victory was the Phils’ 7th win in their last eight contests.  They wrap up their three-game series with the Braves on Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 PM.