» Burrell’s Homer Breaks Tie, Phillies Sweep Braves

Burrell’s Homer Breaks Tie, Phillies Sweep Braves

Leftfielder Pat Burrell’s 2 run homer in the sixth inning broke up a 2-2 tie and ace lefthander Cole Hamels pitched 6 innings to notch his 14th win as the Phillies won the series final by a 4-3 score sweeping their 3 game series and sweeping all 9 games played in Atlanta.

The Phillies’ won and maintained their 1/2 game lead over the Mets who again beat the Washington Nationals. The 3rd place Marlins again pounded Houston to remain 5 1/2 games behind in the division. The 4th place Braves, who dropped to 19 behind, are long out of the running. Meanwhile, the Mets now lead the Brewers by 1 1/2 games in NL Wildcard race. The Brewers were edged out by the Chicago Cubs in extra innings. Tim Malcolm of Phillies Nation notes on the NL wildcard race;

Just for comfort, the Phils moved to two ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card race.

The Phils, as they have done in 3 of their last 4 games, hit the scoreboard against Mike Hampton out of the starting blocks in the first inning. After shortstop Jimmy Rollins flied out, 2nd baseman Chase Utley singled to rightfield and rightfielder Jayson Werth followed with a double to deep centerfield with Utley advancing to 3rd base. When Josh Anderson bobbled the ball in center, Utley scored and Werth advanced to 3rd. 1st baseman Ryan Howard drove in the 2nd run with a sacrifice fly to leftfield as the Phils took a short-lived lead.

Hamels got the 1st two outs in the first inning on grounders before walking 3rd baseman Chipper Jones. Catcher Brian McCann followed with an RBI double to right to cut the Phillies’ lead to 2-1. Hamels then got the 3rd out on another grounder. 1st baseman Casey Kotchman knotted the score at 2-2 lining his second inning leadoff homer to right centerfield on Hamels’ 3rd pitch.

Although the Braves had men on throughout Hamels’ six innings, after tying the game in the 2nd they could push nothing else home against him.

Meanwhile, after the Phillies scored in first inning, they could manage only 2 more hits and a walk off of Hampton through five innings. But in the sixth inning, with 1 out and a man on, Pat Burrell hammered Hampton’s full count pitch to leftfield to give the Phils a 4-2 lead. Burrell has 5 of his 32 homers against the Braves. Centerfielder Shane Victorino followed with a first pitch double to leftfield. 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz was intentionally walked but catcher Carlos Ruiz lined into a doubleplay to end the inning.

Reliever Ryan Madson took over for Hamels to open the seventh inning. Hamels threw 103 pitches and gave up 2 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5 to notch his 14th win. Madson got the 1st 2 outs before a single, a walk and an infield error resulted i the Braves 3rd run.

Madson gave way to J.C. Romero who made short work of the Braves in the eighth inning on 11 pitches. Closer Brad Lidge barred the door on Atlanta in the ninth on 13 pitches for his 38th save in 38 opportunities striking out in the process.

Losing pitcher Hampton threw 108 pitches through seven innings giving up 6 hits and 4 runs in seven innings. Two Braves relievers finished out the game.

AP Sports Writer Charles Odum notes a few Braves’ seasonal series loss records for Yahoo sports;

The Braves weren’t even called the Braves the last time the franchise was swept at home in a season series of as many games almost 100 years ago. In 1909, the Boston Doves lost all 11 home games to the Chicago Cubs.

Philadelphia is the first team to sweep a season series longer than four games in Atlanta. They swept three three-game series at Turner Field by a combined score of 49-24.

The Phillies lead the season series 13-2, their most wins against the Braves in a season with three games remaining in Philadelphia next week.

For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.

The Phillies head to Florida to put their season-high 7 game winning streak up against the hot Marlins who have won 8 straight. I say that they need at least 2 of 3 from Florida in order to maintain position against the Mets.

In Friday’s opener, Brett Myers, with a 2 hit complete game in his previous start, opposes Josh Johnson. On Saturday, Joe Blanton faces Anibal Sanchez. In Sunday’s final, veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer goes for a team high 15th win against rookie Chris Volstad. Fortunately, the Phils will not face Marlins ace Ricky Nolasco who always seems to be tough on them.