Donaldson, Foltynewicz power Braves to 6th straight win
ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Donaldson doubled and drove in three runs, Mike Foltynewicz pitched five scoreless innings, and the streaking Atlanta Braves won their sixth straight game with a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
Ozzie Albies added an early RBI for the Braves, who are 14-2 since Aug. 16 and 32 games over .500 for the first time since the 2003 team finished 101-61.
Tyler Flowers‘ three-run double in the eighth finished off the Blue Jays, who have lost 12 of 15 to fall a season-worst 30 games under .500.
Atlanta heads into an off day Wednesday with a 10-game home winning streak and at least a 6½-game lead in the NL East.
Foltynewicz (5-5) allowed a baserunner in each of his innings, but none in scoring position. His last threat came from Randal Grichuk, who singled to begin the fifth and was erased on a double play.
The Braves led 2-0 in the first off Wilmer Font (3-4). Ronald Acuña Jr., mired in a .162 slump since Aug. 13, tripled off the brick wall in right and scored on Albies’ single. Albies advanced on Freddie Freeman’s opposite-field double down the third base line and scored when Donaldson lined a single to left.
Donaldson lined a double to left in the fifth off T.J. Zeuch, scoring Acuña and Freeman to make it 4-0. Donaldson is 6 for his last 15 with six RBIs over his last three games.
Bryse Wilson, the second Atlanta pitcher, gave up Rowdy Tellez’s second homer in the last two nights and Derek Fisher’s RBI double to make it 4-2 in the seventh.
Foltynewicz walked three and struck out two. Atlanta has won his last nine starts, though the right-hander has a 5.27 ERA over that span.
Font, getting a spot start for the Blue Jays, gave up two runs and four hits in one inning.
ROSTER MOVES
Toronto selected the contract of Zeuch, a 2016 first-round draft pick who allowed two runs and three hits in his major league debut. Zeuch, who pitched a no-hitter two weeks ago for Triple-A Buffalo, became the 37th pitcher used by the Blue Jays this year, a new franchise high. … OF Anthony Alford, OF Jonathan Davis and INF Richard Ureña were recalled from Buffalo. … RHP Zack Godley was designated for assignment. … Atlanta recalled Wilson and LHP A.J. Minter from Triple-A Gwinnett.
ROLLING
The 10th straight victory at SunTrust Park gave the Braves their longest home winning streak since the 2000 team won 12 in a row.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: Toronto is off Wednesday and begins a four-game series Thursday at Tampa Bay. The Blue Jays have yet to announce a starter.
Braves: Atlanta is off Wednesday and begins a four-game series Thursday against NL East rival Washington. LHP Max Fried (15-4, 4.09 ERA) will make his 27h start of the season.
