Gattis Only Bright Spot As Braves Fall To Phillies
By Harris B Nye
Sep 8, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Paul Maholm (28) delivers to the plate during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Cole Hamels carved up every Braves hitter not named Evan Gattis, allowing only two hits over eight innings as the Phillies beat the Braves, 3-2. Both hits that Hamels allowed were monster home runs to Gattis, including a 484-foot bomb to centerfield that is the longest homer in the major leagues this season.
Paul Maholm started the game for the Braves and looked extremely shaky early. Maholm hit the leadoff hitter and was lucky to pick him off which limited the damage for the first inning. Maholm followed up his pickoff with a walk and then a double by Chase Utley put the Phillies up 1-0. A Ruf single increased the lead to 2-0 and things looked like they might get out of hand early but Maholm managed to settle down and escape the first. Maholm pitched six relatively effective innings and didn’t allow another run despite 3 walks and a HBP against 5 strikeouts.
Gattis kept the Braves in the game crushing a Hamels fastball into Ashburn Alley to make it 2-1 Phillies. Gattis kept up his one man show in the 7th as he turned on a Hamels breaking ball and deposited it in the left field seats to tie the game at two. This was all the offense the Braves would be able to muster as they didn’t have another hit.
Anthony Varvaro pitched a scoreless 7th for the Braves bullpen but David Carpenter allowed a leadoff homer to Ruf in the bottom of the 8th that put the Phillies up for good at 3-2. Carpenter retired the next three Phillies in order but the damage was done.
BJ Rosenberg took over for Hamels in the 9th and retired the Braves in order to end the game.
The Braves are now on a four game losing streak as they head to Miami. The Braves still have the best record in the National League and will win the NL East, but it would be nice if they could turn things around against the worst team in the NL.