Swanson, Albies helps Braves rally to beat Phillies 12-6

ATLANTA (AP) — Dansby Swanson hit two homers and drove in five runs, and the Braves rallied from a first-inning, four-run deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 12-6 on Thursday night.

Ozzie Albies gave Atlanta the lead with a three-run homer in the third.

The Braves hit five homers overall, giving them a combined eight in winning the final two games of the three-game series. The Phillies dropped to third place in the division, behind Atlanta and Washington.

The Phillies scored four runs on six hits in the first inning off All-Star Mike Soroka, but the Braves charged back against Zach Eflin. Soroka didn’t allow another run while Eflin allowed two runs in the first, two in the second and three in the third.

Phillies pitchers have given up 150 home runs, the most in the NL. The Braves have hit 140 homers to rank third in the NL. Atlanta took advantage of Philadelphia’s weakness to quickly overcome the four-run deficit against Eflin (7-8).

Swanson started the comeback with a homer to center with one out in the first, and Nick Markakis added a run-scoring double. Swanson’s double in the second drove in Ronald Acuña Jr. for the tying run before Albies’ go-ahead, three-run shot in the third.

Freddie Freeman and Josh Donaldson hit back-to-back homers off Édgar García in the fourth, giving Atlanta a 9-4 lead. After Philadelphia cut Atlanta’s lead to 9-6, Swanson hit a three-run homer off Austin Davis in the eighth. Davis was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier in the day.

Philadelphia’s Sean Rodríguez hit a pinch-hit homer off Grant Dayton in the sixth.

Soroka, 21, was pulled one out before he could qualify for his 10th win. The rookie allowed four runs and nine hits with two walks in 4 2/3 innings. He will take a 2.41 ERA into the All-Star game.

Eflin had a 1.57 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta. He gave up seven runs, six earned, in three innings.

A.J. Minter (3-4) pitched a perfect seventh to earn the victory.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Juan Nicasio was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left groin. The injury was announced after Nicasio gave up three runs while recording only one out in Wednesday night’s 9-2 loss. Manager Gabe Kapler said the strain is “pretty mild.” … Kapler said Wednesday’s exam on RHP Seranthony Domínguez (right elbow) “went really well.”

BE BACK SOON

Because the Braves won’t need a fifth starter until after the All-Star break, RHP Bryse Wilson was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Wilson, who allowed two runs in six innings in Wednesday night’s win, is scheduled to be recalled to face Milwaukee on July 16. Dayton was recalled from Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Vince Velasquez (2-5, 4.73) will face RHP Jacob deGrom when Philadelphia opens a series at the New York Mets on Friday night.

Braves: Atlanta continues its string of nine consecutive games against NL East opponents when it opens a three-game series against Miami with RHP Julio Teheran (5-6, 3.99) facing RHP Jordan Yamamoto (3-0, 2.35).