Atlanta Braves Clippings Saturday, May 21, 2016 Braves.com Wisler, Freeman's 2 HRs lift Braves in Philly By Mark Bowman and Stephen Pianovich / MLB.com | 12:33 AM ET PHILADELPHIA -- Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis extended an unexpected power surge as they combined to record three home runs that backed Matt Wisler's strong start and helped the Braves claim Friday night's 7-1 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Freeman drilled a two-run shot off Aaron Nola in the third inning and added another in the ninth inning against Brett Oberholtzer to complete the seventh multi-homer game of his career and his first multi-RBI game of the season. Markakis also hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning, during which Nola was dinged for three unearned runs. The Braves have hit nine home runs over their past five games, equalling what they had totaled over the 36 games played before Monday. "That's good to see, Freddie getting hot, and Nick swung the bat really well tonight," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. "Matt Wisler was really good. He had a little trouble at the beginning of the ballgame, but he settled in. It's fun watching him. He did a really good job." The Braves have hit nine home runs over their past five games, equaling what they had totaled over the 36 games played before Monday. On the flip side, Nola had not allowed a homer since April 16, and Freeman's home run in the third inning was the first Nola gave up in 36 innings. Wisler recovered from the command issues he experienced during the first inning and matched a season-high seven strikeouts while limiting the Phillies to one run over 6 2/3 innings. The Braves have now won three games during each of their past two road trips. They have gone 2-17 at home. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Souvenir providers: Each of the six homers Freeman had hit before Friday were solo shots. Markakis joined his team's power barrage when he went the other way with a two-out, two-run homer that followed Gordon Beckham's RBI single in the seventh inning. Markakis became the fourth Braves player to hit his first home run of the season this week. "When you look in the room, there might not be a bunch of 20-25-home run hitters, but there's guys in there capable of doing what we did tonight, and that's good," Snitker said. "I told them the other day, if you keep grinding, things will start falling our way, too. You just got to handle that adversity." Trouble at the corner: Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco made two errors, doubling his season total. Franco was charged with his first on the first play of the game as Braves leadoff man Ender Inciarte hit a shot down the third-base line. Franco made another gaffe in the seventh inning, allowing Mallex Smith to reach on a two-base error as his throw sailed into the stands. Smith came around to score to put Atlanta ahead, 3-1. Franco was almost charged with a third error in the eighth inning after he bobbled an Erick Aybar grounder, but Aybar was called out at first after a replay review. "It was a tough moment, I want to make every play," Franco said. "Today just happened, it's part of the game. I'm going to try to forget it." Quick recovery: After surrendering Ryan Howard's RBI groundout during a 21-pitch first inning, Wisler made some mechanical adjustments that helped him retire eight of the next nine batters he faced and pitch around a pair of singles in the fourth inning. The right-hander then retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced, exiting before the start of the eighth inning for the first time in four starts. He has posted a 1.80 ERA over these four starts. "He's been pitching great all season long, especially these past few starts where he's been on top of his game," Freeman said. "It's been going well for him, so hopefully it keeps going well." Rupp has two-hit night: Cameron Rupp provided two of the Phillies' six hits, going 2-for-4 with a double. It was Rupp's first multi-hit game since April 19 (14 games), but the catcher was stranded on second base in both the fourth and sixth innings. QUOTABLE "That's the highest I've seen a 39-year-old jump before." -- Freeman, on the celebratory hop A.J. Pierzynski completed after catching Andres Blanco's popup to end the game. The veteran catcher has had trouble catching popups throughout this season. UPON FURTHER REVIEW The Braves won their first challenge of the season when a replay review awarded Smith an infield single in the third inning. Atlanta had been unsuccessful with each of its 10 previous challenges. The Phillies won a challenge when a replay review overturned first-base umpire Gerry Davis' ruling that Aybar safely reached on what would have been Franco's third error of the night. WHAT'S NEXT Braves: Williams Perez will attempt to recreate his recent success against Philadelphia when this three-game series resumes on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. ET. Perez limited the Phillies to two hits over eight innings on May 11. Phillies: Philadelphia will look to even the series behind Adam Morgan. The left-hander's lone win of the season came against the Braves on May 10, when he allowed one run in seven strong innings. Power on: Braves double HR total in 5 games Club's ledger rises to 18 after Freeman smacks two and Markakis notches first of season By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 12:06 AM ET PHILADELPHIA -- Maybe it's purely coincidental that the Braves have matched their previous home run total since essentially turning Monday's batting-practice session at PNC Park into a modified home run derby. Or maybe the more aggressive approach taken during this week's batting- practice sessions has simply helped create some confidence for an offense that needed it, especially in the power department. After halting their home run woes during this week's series in Pittsburgh, the Braves came to Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park on Friday and enjoyed their first three-homer game of the season in a 7-1 win. Freddie Freeman continued to be the consistent power source with his first two- homer game of the season, and Nick Markakis became the fourth Atlanta player to hit his first homer this week. "I don't know if it's a coincidence," Freeman said. "I think it could all be more about your mental aspect going up to the plate. If you let loose and feel good going up to the plate, this game is mostly mental." The Braves have doubled their season home run total since entering Monday with just nine home runs through their first 36 games. Freeman had accounted for six of those first nine homers, but he has tallied just two of the nine hit over the past five days. Jeff Francoeur and Mallex Smith have both hit a pair, while Tyler Flowers, Kelly Johnson and Markakis have notched the others hit this week. Even with their recent power barrage increasing their season homer total to 18, the Braves have still tallied 13 fewer home runs than the Phillies, who own Major League Baseball's second-lowest total. Freeman's first home run -- a two-run shot in the third inning -- and Markakis' two-run homer in the seventh inning off Phillies starter Aaron Nola might have been aided by the friendly dimensions at Citizens Bank Park. But there were not any obvious cheapies tallied as the Braves hit six home runs over four games at PNC Park to equal the total they have hit in 19 games at Turner Field, which is certainly not kind to hitters in the power alleys. Maybe Monday's batting practice was simply an opportunity to blow off some steam for a team that was being burdened by the constant reminder that they were threatening records of home run futility set in some of the game's dead ball eras. Or maybe, it was simply an activity that altered a mindset and helped create the confidence that has grown as balls have cleared outfield walls with far more regularity this week. "I think the ballparks are a bigger factor," Johnson said. "This is the first time we've been somewhere where in BP you build confidence and then feel it in the game. I think it's coincidence all in all, but not specifically to [Monday's BP session]. I'd say it's part of it, maybe, and getting some confidence." Braves call up De La Cruz, option Gant By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 12:11 AM ET PHILADELPHIA -- When Mike Foltynewicz recorded just nine outs in Thursday night's 8-2 loss to the Pirates, he became the second Braves starting pitcher to complete fewer than four innings within a three-day span. Thus, there was a need to provide yet another Minor Leaguer a chance to serve as a long reliever in Atlanta's bullpen this weekend. The latest exchange of long relievers was completed on Friday, when John Gant was optioned back to Triple-A Gwinnett and Joel De La Cruz's contract was purchased from the same club. Gant threw 38 pitches over 1 1/3 innings of relief on Thursday and would have been unavailable to pitch in Friday's opener in Philadelphia.