Phillies Beat Braves 5-4 In First Game Of Final Series
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jonathan Papelbon made his first appearance in Philadelphia since he made a lewd gesture as he left the field, closing out the Phillies' 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night with a scoreless ninth inning.
The game was Papelbon's first at home since he blew a save against the Marlins on Sept. 14 and lost his composure when he was booed coming off the field. He grabbed himself in response, and then bumped umpire Joe West.
Papelbon denied that he was insulting the fans but served a seven-game suspension.
The closer entered Friday to a chorus of boos that got louder when he was introduced by PA announcer Dan Baker. But the fans gave him a standing ovation when he got Joey Terdoslavich out on a grounder to end it for his 39th save in 43 chances, prompting Papelbon to pump his right fist before embracing catcher Carlos Ruiz.
Marlon Byrd drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning groundout.
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