Zach Eflin offers the Phillies to defeat the Royals

KANSAS CITY – Zach Eflin has experienced some slowdowns in mid-April, but it's been a good race for the Phillies' righteous right-winger in recent weeks.
Eflin achieved his third in a row win with an effective 7-0 win against the Royals on Saturday night at

KANSAS CITY – Zach Eflin Some slowdowns in mid-April, but the Philadelphia Reed Racer's run has gone well in recent weeks.

Eflin presented his third in a row with an effective 7-0 win over the Royals on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium. By crushing the strike zone and inducing early contact, Eflin ensured that the count of shots was never a problem to start his second career shutout. He now has three straight wins following three consecutive defeats from April 13 to 23.

Eflin got 27 outs on 110 shots, including 21 on the ninth. It was the fourth full match of his career and the first shutout against a Phillies pitcher since Jeremy Hellickson cleared the Marlins on September 17, 2016.

• The score of the box

Eflin has developed a special chemistry with emergency sensor Andrew Knapp, who still sailed for Eflin on Saturday.

"It's really about following the game plan," said Eflin. "I can not give enough credit to Knapp. He knows what I do best and we are together since doubled. "

Eflin had only one fragile sleeve. In the fourth, he hit two consecutive hitters to charge the bases with two outs when the Phillies had a 3-0 lead. Eflin hit right-handed hitters Hunter Dozier and Jorge Soler, trying to protect the inside of the plate. He managed to escape when Ryan O'Hearn collapsed.

"It was great," said Eflin. "I was not really on the hill of this heat and my mechanics were a little behind. I was just happy not to leave balls in the middle of the plate. If I go back, I'd rather go than miss in the middle of the plate. "

Eflin got all the offense he needed in the third inning, largely thanks to a single of two outings, two points by Rhys Hoskins. Philadelphia, who was stuck in the first game of the series Friday, charged the bases with a goal against Royals starter Brad Keller. Bryce Harper was eliminated, but Hoskins picked him up by scoring his two-point single in one inning that turned into a three-run run.

"Its effectiveness is still distinguished," said Gabe Kapler, Phillies manager, about Eflin. "He is very comfortable with the opposition putting the ball in the game. There are so many guys who are moving away from the contact in this game. He fears nothing.

Kapler is strongly opposed to a "personal receiver", but likes the way Efliin and Knapp work together.

"[Knapp] led ideally when Eflin was on the mound, "said Kapler.