posted July 3, 2008
) Photo by Tim Evearitt Chase Utley connects for his Major League leading 24th home run in the first inning. Click to enlarge photo. |
The Phillies have won eight of their nine games against the Braves this year, including each of the six played at Turner Field.
They remain atop the National League East standings and own a seven-game lead over the Braves, who had just two hits in 30 at-bats with runners in scoring position during this series.
Solo homers from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz provided most of the damage against Jurrjens, who entered the game having not allowed an earned run in any of his three previous starts -- 21 2/3 innings.
The Phillies ended up touching the rookie hurler for four earned runs and eight hits in seven innings.
Given an early lead with Utley's first-inning homer, Phillies starter Cole Hamels had little trouble keeping the Braves scoreless in his second straight start against them this year.
While allowing just five hits in 8 2/3 innings, the southpaw was as impressive as he'd been on May 15, when he tossed a four-hit shutout against the Braves.
Yunel Escobar's first-inning, one-out double went unrewarded, and Hamels also escaped after walking Brian McCann to put runners on first and second with nobody out in the second inning. Following the McCann walk, the Phillies southpaw retired 20 of the next 21 batters.
The Braves finally put a run on the board in the ninth on McCann's two-out double to right sending Hamels to the shower.
Tom "Flash" Gordan got Jeff Francoeur to pop out for the final out of the game.
* * * * * *
The Houston Astros are next with Tim Hudson starting Game 1 of the series Friday, July 4th.
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Adapted from MLB.com
) Photo by Tim Evearitt Jair Jurrjens allowed a career-high three home runs and threw a career-high 119 pitches. Click to enlarge photo. |
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