Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer and Troy Glaus added a late three-run shot, backing a solid start from Tommy Hanson and helping the Braves to their sixth consecutive win, a 9-3 decision over the Phillies.
Atlanta Stay Hot As Tommy Hanson Pitches Braves Into First Place
Hanson (5-3) gave up a run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings to take the win. He also walked three and struck out two in the victory, which opened a three-game series and vaulted Atlanta over the Phillies into first place in the NL East by half a game.
The Braves had been 6 1/2 games behind on May 17, but have gone 11-2 since then. Atlanta made up the ground thanks also to the Phillies’ struggles, which have mostly been offensive.
The Phillies have lost seven of their last nine and been shut out five times over that stretch. Philadelphia has not scored more than three runs in any of the other games and needed a perfect game from Roy Halladay to beat the Marlins on Saturday, 1-0.
Monday, Philadelphia got all its runs in a seventh-inning flash of offense, as Carlos Ruiz, Wilson Valdez and Ben Francisco hit consecutive run-scoring doubles.
Joe Blanton (1-4) gave up six runs (four earned) in six innings to take the loss.
“It’s pretty frustrating lately,” Blanton said. “It seems like everything that can go wrong does. Both sides of the line, at the plate and on the field. We know we’re a good team, we know what we’re capable of.”
Jones had hit only two home runs on the year before Monday's contest, with the last coming on April 16, but went deep in the first inning to give the Braves the lead. Martin Prado singled to lead off, and two batters later Jones pulled a fastball, which Blanton threw down in the zone and over the plate, over the right field wall.
Glaus later reached second base when Ross Gload, playing right field as Jayson Werth was given the day off, dropped a fly ball. Eric Hinske followed with a single to plate Glaus for a 3-0 lead.
The Braves rallied again in the third inning, when Brian McCann walked with one out and Glaus singled to put runners on the corners. Hinske then hit a ball that Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard didn't field cleanly, allowing McCann to come home. Yunel Escobar followed with a two-run single to make it a 6-0 game.
Philadelphia had opportunities early but didn’t take advantage. It had runners on the corners in the first, but Howard grounded into an inning-ending double play. In the second, the Phillies had two on and nobody out before Ruiz flied out and Valdez grounded into a double play.
Philadelphia got on the scoreboard in the seventh, when Raul Ibanez hit a two- out double. Hanson was removed for Peter Moylan, who gave up the consecutive doubles as the Phillies got within 6-3.
Antonio Bastardo took over for Blanton in the bottom half and gave up a one- out single to Jones before walking McCann. The Phillies brought in Chad Durbin, whose first pitch Glaus hammered over the wall in center to restore Atlanta's six-run cushion.
“We had three three-run innings. Great way to vault ourselves into first place,” Jones said. “Now is the hard part. Now we’re the hunted. Today’s win is only good if we do it again tomorrow.”
McCann hadn't started Atlanta's last four games because of a strained right quadriceps...The Braves have scored seven or more runs in six of their last 11 games. They are 16-0 this season when scoring at least seven runs...On Monday, the Phillies activated closer Brad Lidge from the 15-day disabled list. Lidge went on the disabled list on May 16, retroactive to the 10th, with elbow inflammation. To open a roster spot, the Phillies designated Nelson Figueroa for assignment...Over their last 13 games, the Phillies have been outscored 52-22.
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