W - Blanton (9-6), L - Jurrjens (10-9), S - Lidge (27)
All night, the Phillies and the Braves played in a tight-matched pitcher's duel. Both Joe Blanton and Jair Jurrjens surrendered solo home runs early in the game, but then matched goose eggs for most of the rest of the game. However, in the seventh inning, the Phillies finally broke through with a clutch hit from Carlos Ruiz to take the lead for good. In what was an all-around well pitched game, the Phillies took two of three from the Braves by the final of 3-2.
Joe Blanton pitched superbly, allowing a first inning homer and then settling down. He only gave up three hits but walked an uncharacteristically high four batters. However, the righty worked through jams masterfully and held the Braves to the one earned run in seven innings pitched and struck out seven. The Phillies' bullpen made it interesting in the eighth inning, but a fantastic, unorthodox double play by the Phillies' middle infielders got them out of trouble. Brad Lidge came in for the ninth and tossed another spotless inning for the save.
The Braves' Jair Jurrjens battled hard, as he has all season. In the fourth inning, he gave up a line driver homer to Chase Utley that tied the game, though. Jurrjens worked out of trouble on several occasions but was not able to escape in the seventh inning, when Carlos Ruiz knocked in a pair of runs on a double. Though not great on offense, the Phillies executed just enough to put themselves in line for a win against a very good Atlanta staff.
Giving the Braves one last kick on their way out of town was great for the Phillies standing and spirits. They now own an eight game lead in the NL East, over both the Braves and Marlins. With the win, the Phillies improve to 75-53 on the season. More importantly, they have take two of three from a tough division opponent at home, before welcoming the very hot Giants in this week.
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