Amidst a stretch of games played against the National League East, the Phillies' woes grew worse tonight in the second game of this three-game series against Tommy Hanson and the Braves.
Brian McCann, coming off a big night, went deep again in the top of the second to put up the first run of the game.
The Phillies rallied in the bottom of the second to put up a three spot. Juan Pierre doubled to right field to score Hunter Pence. Pence, flying around the basepaths like a wild mongoose, knocked over third base coach Juan Samuel. Samuel went sailing towards the ground as the entire dugout erupted with laughter. Sammy did not laugh.
Next, Joe Blanton singled to right to score Placido Polanco from third. Jimmy Rollins ended the inning on a force out which Juan Pierre was able to score on. 3-1 Phils.
In the top of the third, Martin Prado doubled in Michael Bourn. Those two are one of the most intimidating 1-2 punches in all of baseball. The Phillies' lead was down to one run.
Of course, Brian McCann tied the ballgame up in the fourth. He singled to right field to bring home Chipper Jones. Andrelton Simmons gave his team the lead with a sacrifice fly which scored Freddie Freeman.
Simmons came around to score in the top of the seventh on a single from Martin Prado. At this point, Blanton's pitch count was extraordinarily high, and Jake Diekman would replace him. Michael Bourn extended the Braves' lead to 6-3 with a steal of home after Jason Heyward struck out and Carlos Ruiz lost the ball.
Joe Blanton's final line from tonight: 6.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 6 K. His ERA is now a hefty 4.98.
Jake Diekman allowed just the one run, while Jeremy Horst went on to pitch a scoreless ninth. You probably guessed this, the Phillies did not come back in the ninth and dropped to the Braves, 6-3.
The Phillies will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon with Vance Worley on the mound against Jair Jurrjens.
