A five-run sixth inning Tuesday cost the Braves a win as the Phillies dumped Atlanta, 7-4, Tuesday night at Disney World.
Jayson Werth started his two-hit performance with an opposite-field two-run homer off Kenshin Kawakami in the second inning and capped it with a single that fueled the five-run sixth inning that proved to be the difference.
Ben Francisco's two-run double and John Mayberry Jr.'s two-run single accounted for most of the sixth-inning damage against losing pitcher Jose Ortegano.
Troy Glaus' leadoff single sparked a four-run fourth and prolonged a hot streak that has seen him single in each of his past eight at-bats. Glaus ended the night with a .750 average.
The fourth-inning uprising against Ryan Madson also included a Brian McCann double and Eric Hinske's pinch-hit two-run double. Hinske has recorded four hits in the five at-bats he's tallied during the past two days.
Roy Halladay's first look at his new division rivals proved to be impressive, as he recorded five strikeouts in three scoreless innings. Two of the three hits he surrendered were the consecutive two-out singles recorded by Chipper Jones and Glaus in the first inning.
Pitching in a big league game for the first time this year, Madson surrendered four runs (two earned) in the fourth inning.
Kawakami saw Werth's two-run homer account for all of the damage he incurred while surrendering three hits in three innings.
Billy Wagner hit Francisco's right foot with a pitch and then completed a scoreless fourth inning with Brian Schneider's double-play groundout.
Jose Ortegano, who has made just eight appearances above the Class A level, showed his youth while surrendering six hits and five earned runs in his one inning of work.
The Braves used a lineup that could prove to be the same one they use on Opening Day. This gave their projected starters a chance to get a look at Halladay.
Derek Lowe will make his second start of the Grapefruit League season on Wednesday, when the Braves host the Mets at 1:05 p.m. As he prepares for his Opening Day assignment, Lowe will once again display the adjusted delivery that he developed during the offseason.
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Source: MLB.com
Jason Werth watches as his ball heads over the right field wall for a two-run homer.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt