Braves Take Two Of Three From Phillies After 7-5 Win
ATLANTA (AP) — Andrelton Simmons had three hits, including a homer, Freddie Freeman drove in three runs with three hits and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Wednesday night.
The Braves won two of three for their first series win since taking two of three at Toronto April 17-19. They split a four-game series with Cincinnati before facing the Phillies.
Philadelphia's Ryan Howard homered and Ben Revere had four hits, including a career-high three doubles. The Phillies have lost seven of nine.
Jason Grilli allowed one run on one walk and two hits in the ninth. Darrin Ruf's single drove in Revere, who led off with a single. Grilli struck out Odubel Herrera to clinch his ninth save in 10 chances.
Simmons hit a first-inning homer off Jerome Williams (2-2). The Braves took the lead for good on Freeman's run-scoring double in the fourth.
Mike Foltynewicz (2-0), making his second career start, allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings.
Foltynewicz led 6-1 before tiring in the sixth, when the Phillies scored three runs.
Williams was lifted with one out in the fifth and allowed a season-high six runs on eight hits.
The Braves led 2-1 before battering Williams in the fifth. Jace Peterson led off the inning with a liner up the middle. Williams had to fall to the mound to avoid being hit. It was the first of five hits in the inning, including a two-run double to right field by Freeman off reliever Jake Diekman.
Foltynewicz drove in a run with a fly ball and Nick Markakis had a run-scoring single.
Freeman also doubled in the fourth to drive in Simmons, who doubled as well.
Howard led off the sixth with his fifth homer. Herrera reached on a one-out infield single, and the safe call on the close play at first stood following a review. Herrera scored on Jeff Francoeur's pinch-hit single off Cody Martin.
The Braves recalled right-hander Williams Perez from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game. Perez, a starter at Gwinnett, will pitch in middle relief. Right-hander Michael Kohn was optioned to Gwinnett.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies second baseman Chase Utley was held out for the second straight day as he continues to take what manager Ryne Sandberg described as a mental rest. Utley is hitting .103. Sandberg said batting practice for Utley was optional during his break.
UP NEXT
Phillies: After an off day on Thursday, the Phillies launch a 10-game homestand when they face Matt Harvey and the New York Mets on Friday night. Cole Hamels (1-3) will start for Philadelphia.
Braves: Off on Thursday, Atlanta opens a weekend series at Washington on Friday night when LHP Eric Stults (1-2) faces LHP Gio Gonzalez. Stults' only win this season came at home against the Nationals on April 27.
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