Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Tim Hudson came up huge for the Braves, allowing four runs in seven strong innings, and Atlanta clinched at least a tie for the NL wild card after hanging on for an 8-7 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Braves Need Tim Hudson To Come Up Big Versus Phillies
After losing the first two games of this series, the Braves (91-71) found themselves tied with the San Diego Padres for the NL's final playoff berth heading into Sunday's outing. With outgoing manager Bobby Cox possibly managing his last game, Hudson (17-9) allowed just two two-run homers -- no other hits -- while fanning three with one walk to assure that Atlanta lives to see another game.
Should the Padres beat the Giants later Sunday, there will be a three-way tie between the clubs, and the Braves will host the loser of Monday's San Diego- San Francisco matchup on Tuesday to determine the wild card winner. If San Diego loses, Atlanta will play the Giants in the NLDS, starting in San Francisco on Thursday.
Omar Infante and Brooks Conrad each drove in a pair of runs, while Derrek Lee homered for the Braves, who are seeking their first postseason berth since 2005.
John Mayberry, Jr. and Jayson Werth each homered for the Phillies (97-65), who secured the best record in baseball on Saturday and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their opponent for the NLDS has yet to be determined.
Trailing by one in the fourth, the Braves scored four times off Danys Baez (3- 4) to take the lead for good.
With one away, Matt Diaz, Alex Gonzalez and Conrad each singled in succession to tie the game, 2-2. Rick Ankiel struck out swinging, and Baez had Hudson 0-2 with runners on the corners. He hung a breaking ball, however, and Hudson sent it clean into centerfield for a go-ahead RBI single.
Infante followed with a two-run triple for a 5-2 Braves lead.
Joe Blanton came on to pitch the fifth, as the Phillies tried to give several pitchers work, and Lee greeted him with a leadoff homer for a four-run Atlanta cushion. Conrad's RBI single later in the inning extended the advantage.
Matt Diaz's RBI single in the sixth made it an 8-2 contest, and Werth's two- run homer in the seventh cut the Phillies' deficit to four.
Jonny Venters entered the game in the eighth in relief of Hudson, but ran into some two-out trouble. He retired the first two hitters, but Jimmy Rollins singled and was followed by Mike Sweeney's pinch-hit single, putting runners on the corners.
Billy Wagner entered for a four-out save opportunity, but Wilson Valdez greeted him with an RBI single. Ben Francisco followed with a pinch-hit two run double to cut the deficit to one before Raul Ibanez struck out to end the threat.
Wagner shut the door in the ninth by striking out three consecutive batters -- all looking -- to notch his 37th save of the year.
Mayberry's pinch-hit two-run homer in the third gave the Phillies an early 2-0 lead, but Jason Heyward answered with an RBI triple off Roy Oswalt in the home half to cut the deficit in half.
The Braves notched their 56th home win of the season, tying a franchise record...Hudson improved to 7-0 in nine day starts this season...Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch in the third and left the game. It's unclear whether he was pulled due to injury or rest...Atlanta is 20-4 in home day games this season...Phillies pitcher J.C. Romero left the game in the seventh inning with lower back soreness.
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