Braves Hit 4 Homers to Batter Lee, Phillies
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Atlanta starter Derek Lowe went 5 2/3 innings on Saturday giving up 1 run on 8 hits to gain his 13th win as the Braves pummelled Phillies ace lefthander Cliff Lee for 3 homers for 6 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings. Atlanta pounded a 4th homer in the sixth during a 3 run pounding of reliever Chad Durbin as the Braves hit 4 homers to batter Lee and the Phillies by a 9-1 score in game 2 of their 3 game series.
With the loss, the Phils dropped a game of their NL East Division lead over the 2nd place Braves who now trail by 7 games. The Florida Marlins, who lost again to San Diego on Saturday, remain 8 games back in 3rd place. The Mets, who were again pounded by the Chicago Cubs, remained 17 1/2 games back in 4th place.
The Phils took a brief 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as 2nd baseman Chase Utley reached Lowe for a 2 out solo homer, his 28th dinger of the season. It would be the only run the Phils would score in the game. Utley went 3 for 4 as the offense collected 11 hits but continued struggling futilely to drive in runners on base — they left 11 runners stranded.
The offense was as ugly as the pitching, although, with the kind of start Cliff Lee has had in Philly, one would almost expect an off-game at some point.
The AP game recap for Yahoo sports included reactions from both Lee and Manager Charlie Manuel to the game:
“I went to watch every hit I gave up and basically all night they were right down the middle,” Lee said. “I got ahead and didn’t walk anybody and was in position to put guys away but I didn’t do it. I’ve got to do a better job of keeping the ball down. They’re a very good hitting ballclub and they didn’t miss any of them.”
“He had an off night,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He got the ball up on the left-handed hitters. The way he’s been pitching you figure sooner or later he’s going to have a tough night.”
Garret Anderson hit a three-run homer off the Phillies’ new ace…
Matt Diaz and Yunel Escobar also homered off Lee, who had been practically unhittable for the NL East-leading Phillies entering Saturday night. He entered with an ERA of 0.68 and had surrendered just 24 hits and six runs, three earned, in 40 innings while holding opponents to a .175 average.
“He made more mistakes than he’s been making,” Diaz said. “I watched film and he missed five spots in two games. I think he would tell you he didn’t hit his spots tonight.”
After three scoreless innings, Anderson gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead in the fourth with his three-run shot to right. Four batters later, Diaz hit a two-out, two-run homer.
In the next inning, Yunel Escobar homered to deep left to make it 6-1.
Prior to the Braves’ power surge, Lee hadn’t allowed a homer in 43 innings since being traded to Philadelphia. The three homers he gave up Saturday were the most allowed in a game this season by Lee, who had surrendered just 10 in 192 innings entering Saturday. He left after giving up 10 hits and six runs in five innings.
Derek Lowe (13-9) scattered eight hits in 5 2-3 innings, striking out five, to improve to 6-1 lifetime against the Phillies and 4-0 at Citizens Bank Park.
The Braves plated 3 insurance runs in the sixth inning against reliever Chad Durbin on an RBI single by infielder Martin Prado and a 2 run shot by 3rd baseman Chipper Jones.
Reliever Tyler Walker finished out the final 2 innings of the game holding the Braves to 2 hits while striking out 2. The only walk of the game was issued by Durbin in the sixth.
The Phils were retired in order in the eighth and ninth innings by the Braves bullpen.
Lee threw 93 pitches in 5 innings giving up the 6 runs, on 3 homers, on 10 hits. He struck out 5. Lowe threw 113 pitches in 5 2/3 innings
giving up only Utley’s solo homer and 8 hits while also striking out 5.
For the scores of all of Saturday’s games, click here.
In Sunday’s series final Joe Blanton, whose pitching continues to be solid, is opposed by Jair Jurrjens. The Phillies really need a win in the final to take 2 of 3 in the series and set some momentum for the week.
The Phillies get a much needed Monday off before beginning a 3 game series hosting the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday through Thursday.
For all of Sunday’s games, click here.
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