Freeman, Teheran Send Braves Past Phillies 4-2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered, doubled and drove in all four Atlanta runs to back Julio Teheran's strong pitching as the Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 Friday night.
Freeman's three-run homer was caught by Philadelphia play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy, who was broadcasting the game from center field along with analysts Matt Stairs and Jamie Moyer, both former Phillies.
Teheran (7-5) allowed two runs — one earned — and six hits in seven innings. He struck out nine, walked none and retired his final seven batters for Atlanta, which had lost six of 10 beginning with Philadelphia's three-game sweep at Turner Field last week.
Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save in 27 chances.
Ben Revere had three hits, including a triple, for the Phillies, who have lost five of seven.
The Braves jumped on Kyle Kendrick in the first inning thanks to Freeman's three-run drive. Freeman's RBI double in the second boosted Atlanta's lead to 4-0 before Kendrick settled down.
Kendrick (3-8) tossed a season-best eight innings, giving up four runs and nine hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
But the early damage was too much to overcome for Philadelphia's sagging offense, which entered ranked 11th in the NL in batting average at .241. The Phillies scored three runs or fewer for the 39th time this season and dropped to 7-32 in those games.
The Phillies scored twice in the fourth on Jimmy Rollins' RBI groundout and Marlon Byrd's RBI single.
They threatened in the eighth against reliever Jordan Walden, placing runners on first and second with two outs, but Walden fanned Ryan Howard on a 97 mph fastball to end the inning.
Philadelphia put a runner in scoring position in the ninth. Byrd drew a leadoff walk, but Kimbrel struck out Cody Asche before John Mayberry Jr. flied out to the wall in left-center. Domonic Brown, out of the starting lineup for the second straight day and third time in five games, struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the game.
Gerald Laird replaced Evan Gattis behind the plate for the Braves after the top of the first. Gattis struck out swinging in the first and left the game due to back spasms. Laird went 1 for 3 with a double.
NOTES: Philadelphia placed catcher Carlos Ruiz on the seven-day DL with concussion-like symptoms. Ruiz was hit in the head by A.J. Ramos' pitch Thursday against Miami. . The teams play a day-night doubleheader Saturday, with Atlanta RHP Ervin Santana (5-5, 4.15 ERA) facing RHP Roberto Hernandez (3-6, 4.41) in the opener, followed by RHP David Hale (3-2, 2.72) against Philadelphia RHP Sean O'Sullivan in the nightcap. O'Sullivan will be making his first start of the season after getting called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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