Phillies Fall To The Braves 5-3; No-Hit Through Five Innings

Posted by Danielle Wilson

Prior to the start of this day game, the Phillies and Braves made a few quick changes in wardrobe. The Phillies brought back the uniform of the Philadelphia Stars, the Negro League team which was founded in 1933, and disbanded in 1952. The Braves wore the uniform of the Atlanta Black Crackers who were founded in 1919 and disbanded the same year as the Stars.

Joe Blanton, who is coming off of his first win of the season in Florida, took the hill against Jair Jurrjens who allowed one earned run off of eight hits to the Phillies in his last outing six days ago.

It didn't take long for the Braves to test out Joe Blanton's velocity which was down by at least 2 m.p.h., in fact, it only took six pitches for the Braves to take a 2-0 lead; Martin Prado and Nate McLouth went back-to-back with solo homers in the first inning.

Jair Jurrjens tossed 5 1/3 perfect innings before Michael Martinez, who came in to pinch hit for Blanton, singled to break it up. Jimmy Rollins followed with an RBI double, but was caught in a rundown to end the inning.

Blanton was done after five which was a bit confusing. Despite the two home runs that he allowed in the first inning, he really didn't have a bad game. His line: Five hits, two earned runs, one walk, five K.

In the sixth, J.C. Romero issued a walk and allowed a single before Kyle Kendrick came in and allowed two singles and a walk, giving the Braves a 5-1 lead.

In the eighth inning, Wilson Valdez doubled to score Raul Ibanez. John Mayberry Jr. grounded out to score Raul, 5-3 Braves.

Craig Kimbrel closed it out for the Braves, striking out two, and helping Jurrjens win his fifth game of the season.

Something to note: Shane Victorino left the game following a groundout in the seventh, which ended his fifteen-game hitting streak. Ross Gload came in to pinch hit for him, and it was later reported by multiple sources that Shane has right hamstring soreness. Droppin' like flies.

The Phillies are now 10-1 in day games this season, they were the only club in the majors without a day game loss. Joe Blanton took the loss to drop to 1-2. Tomorrow, the Phillies will play in the Civil Rights Game which will be the rubber match game of the series. Roy Halladay will take the mound against Tim Hudson.