Braves don’t play but still lose ground in East

Video: 9 things you may not know about Anibal Sanchez, who starts for the Braves Friday night.

The Braves didn’t play Thursday but they still fell out of first place again.

The Philadelphia Phillies held on to beat the Orioles 5-4 in Baltimore and take sole possession of the top spot in the NL East.

The Phillies (52-40) lead the Braves (51-40) by a half game.

Jorge Alfaro homered and drove in three runs for Philadelphia.

The Braves open a three-game home series against the Diamondbacks Friday night at 7:35.

Anibal Sanchez (4-2) starts for the Braves against Arizona’s Zack Godley (10-6).

The All-Star break begins Monday, though Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will participate in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Washington.

Freeman and three other Braves were selected for the NL roster for Tuesday’s All-Star game.