The Phils took a 2-0 lead in the 4th inning of their Friday game, couldn’t hold the lead, then came back to tie the game at 3 and then to go ahead 6-3, finally defeating the Atlanta Braves 6-5.  Phils starter Cory Lidle (7-7) evened his pitching record for the year giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and walking 1 in 8 innings.

The Phils got off to a 2-0 lead in the 4th as 33 year old rookie catcher Chris Coste (2 HRs, .333 BA) hit his 2nd Major League homer, a 2 run shot off of Atlanta starting  pitcher John Smoltz (7-6) with 3rd baseman David Bell (5 HRs, 30 RBIs, .283 BA) aboard.

In the Braves 5th inning, leftfielder Scott Thorman (4 HRs) promptly knotted the score with a 2 run homer.  Atlanta went ahead 3-2 in the 6th as shortstop Edgar Renteria (10 HRs, 40 RBIs, .319 BA).

The Phils tied the game in the 7th as shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11 HRs, 34 RBIs) clubbed a solo blast.   Rollins went 4 for 5 for the game.  Braves starter John Smoltz left the game after 7 innings giving up 3 runs.

In the 8th inning, the Phils took the lead for good as pinch hitter David Dellucci (6 HRs, .319 BA) drove in a run on a single and Chase Utley (16 HRs, 58 RBIs, .317 BA) drove in 2 more runs with a single as the Phils tagged reliever and losing pitcher Ken Ray (0-1) for the 3 runs and took a 6-3 lead.  The 6th run became the margin of victory.  Utley’s single, his only hit of the game marked the extension of his hitting streak to 22 games.

The Phils brought in Tom Gordon (3-3, 2.45 ERA, S23) to close the game and although he held the lead and was credited with the save, he didn’t have an easy time of it giving up a 2 run homer to Braves rightfielder Jeff Francoeur (18 HRs, 66 RBIs) as Atlanta closed to 6-5.

For a full recap including box score and play-by-play on Friday’s game, as well as recaps on all games played on Saturday night, click here and here.

Unfortunately, Saturday’s game between the Phils and the Atlanta Braves was postponed due to rain.  Therefore, Brett Myers (6-3) who was scheduled to start Saturday will start today for the Phils vs lefthander Horacio Ramirez (5-3) for the Braves.

For full coverage of Sunday’s games in both leagues; previews, recaps, box scores and play-by-play coverage click here.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 23rd, 2006 at 12:11 pm and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.