Recap: Philadelphia vs. Atlanta
Sports Network | September 23, 2008
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Mike Hampton threw six solid innings and Casey Kotchman went 2-for-4 with a homer, as the Atlanta Braves edged Philadelphia, 3-2, in the second of three games with the Phillies.
Hampton (3-3) gave up just two runs on six hits and three walks, and struck out four for Atlanta, which has won three of four. It was Hampton's first win since August 16, as he went 0-2 in six starts between.
Kelly Johnson also had two hits and an RBI in the win, extending his hit streak to 21 games. It is the longest hitting streak for any National League player this season. The Braves won just their second one-run game on the road this season, and are 2-22 in such games.
Cole Hamels (14-10) labored through the early innings and took the loss after allowing three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits and a walk in seven frames. He also struck out seven.
The Phillies, who had won three in a row, saw their lead in the NL East fall to 1 1/2 games over New York after the Mets beat the Cubs, 6-2, on Tuesday. Philadelphia's magic number to clinch the East stayed at four.
Pat Burrell and Pedro Feliz each finished with a hit and RBI for the Phillies.
"We didn't score enough runs and we didn't hit well tonight," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
The Braves got a run in the first inning after Martin Prado doubled with one out and Johnson singled him in. The Phillies then tied up the game in the second.
Ryan Howard led off with a single and Burrell worked a walk. Shane Victorino followed by grounding into a double play as Howard advanced to third. Howard then came home on Feliz's flare into right field.
But a Hamels error helped the Braves take the lead back in the next frame. Johnson got on base when his grounder bounced high and hit Howard in the chest at first base. Two batters later Omar Infante singled before Hamels fanned Jeff Francoeur for the second out. Hamels then caught Johnson with a pickoff move, but threw the ball past Feliz at third base. Johnson crossed the plate to give Atlanta a 2-1 edge.
Kotchman's solo shot in the top of the sixth gave the Braves a two-run lead. It was the third homer Kotchman has hit off Hamels this season.
Philadelphia did get a run back in the sixth, but suspect baserunning wasted a larger opportunity. Howard led off by tripling into the right field corner, and Burrell doubled off the wall in left-center field to plate the run. But Victorino grounded to shortstop and Burrell was caught in a rundown while going to third. Victorino was safe on the play, but was then thrown out trying to steal second. Feliz grounded out to formally end the threat.
"We ran into Mike Hampton, and he pitched pretty well," Howard said. "It happens. No reason to panic."
The Phillies didn't get a runner past first base the rest of the game, as Mike Gonzalez got Carlos Ruiz to ground into a game-ending double play in the ninth, nailing down his 14th save in the process.
Howard reached base in all four plate appearances, with two hits and two walks...The Phillies hit into three double plays...Each team left six runners on base...Jeff Bennett and Will Ohman each threw a scoreless inning of relief for the Braves...Hamels threw at least seven innings for the 24th time this season, the most among all MLB pitchers.
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