Phillies Win Second Straight, Top Braves 5-2
ATLANTA (AP) — Jeff Francoeur had four hits and drove in two runs, Aaron Harang allowed one run over six innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 on Monday night.
Francoeur had a run-scoring double off Alex Wood (1-2) in Philadelphia's three-run first inning. Francoeur, who began his career with Atlanta, drove in another run with a triple off Jim Johnson in the ninth. He also had two singles.
Carlos Ruiz had two hits, including a two-run single, and Darrin Ruf had three hits. The Phillies set a season high with 14 hits.
Pitching five days before his 37th birthday, Harang (3-2) allowed five hits against the team he played for in 2014. In two starts against Atlanta this season, Harang has allowed one run and seven hits in 14 innings.
Harang gave up the run in the sixth when Andrelton Simmons tripled off the wall in center field and scored on Freddie Freeman's single.
With Freeman still on first base, Odubel Herrera protected the 3-1 lead by catching Jonny Gomes' drive at the top of the wall in center. Herrera made the leaping catch after being unable to run down Simmons' drive.
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon gave up a run-scoring infield hit to Nick Markakis in the ninth. The single drove in Alberto Callaspo, who led off with a walk. Papelbon ended the game with Simmons' groundout.
Harang was 12-12 with a career-best 3.57 ERA in 33 starts with the Braves last season. He received a no-decision despite allowing two hits in eight innings in the Phillies' 1-0 win over Atlanta on April 24 in Philadelphia.
The Braves had runners on second and third against Jake Diekman in the seventh when Markakis grounded out to end the inning.
Braves second baseman Jace Peterson made a diving stop of Chase Utley's grounder in shallow right field in the fifth inning. Peterson bounced up and his throw to first beat Utley by a step.
The Phillies loaded the bases against Wood and right-hander Michael Kohn in the fifth before Ruiz ended the inning by hitting into a double play.
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg came out of the dugout in the eighth when an inside pitch from Luis Avilan sent Ben Revere to the ground. The pitch appeared to hit the knob of Revere's bat. Revere then took a called third strike to end the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: A healthy 1B Ryan Howard was rested from the starting lineup against the left-handed Wood. Howard is hitting .176 against left-handers and .193 overall.
Braves: IF-OF Kelly Johnson was rested after making eight straight starts, leaving the Braves with their 26th different lineup in as many games. Johnson entered the game in left field in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Chad Billingsley's long fight back to the major leagues will end when he comes off the 15-day DL for his first start since April 15, 2013, for the Dodgers against San Diego. Billingsley has come back from two elbow surgeries and was with the Phillies on Monday.
Braves: RHP Shelby Miller (3-1) will try to bounce back from his first loss as he tries for his second win against the Phillies this season. He allowed two runs in six innings in a 5-2 win at Philadelphia on April 25.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
