Matt Diaz Leads Braves Over Phillies 6-3
By Editorial Staff
The Braves outlasted the Phillies on an exhausting night with really high temperatures to maintain their lead in the NL East at two games. Jair Jurrjens made his second start since coming off of the disabled list and looked good once again. Jurrjens pitched six innings and had the strange stat line of of allowing three runs while only giving up two hits.
The Braves emptied the bullpen last night using six relievers. Only Kenshin Kawakami remained by the time the game was over. Jesse Chavez picked up the win with his one inning of work. Billy Wagner came on in the bottom of the 11th to nail down his eighteenth save of the season.
Offensively the Braves got on the board early when a first inning Troy Glaus double play grounder scored Martin Prado. Glaus was back in the lineup after missing his previous two games with a sore knee. The Phillies quickly answered in the bottom half as Raul Ibanez hit a two run home run that scored Jimmy Rollins.
The Braves tied the score in the fourth with a David Ross RBI single that scored Matt Diaz. This was also Ross’ first game back after injuring a finger on a foul tip.
The Braves once again took the lead in the seventh when Martin Prado hit his eighth home run of the season. Ryan Howard tied the game for the Phillies once again in the home half of the seventh with an RBI triple that chased Jurrjens from the game. Peter Moylan and Jonny Venters combined to strand Howard at third.
Matt Diaz gave the Braves the lead for good in the eleventh inning with an RBI single that plated Yunel Escobar. Eric Hinske followed with his sixth home run of the season to give the Braves some much needed breathing room. Wagner came on and closed out the victory.
Matt Diaz came up huge for the Braves in his second game back from the disabled list. Diaz had three hits on the night with the go ahead RBI. All Stars Omar Infante and Martin Prado each had two hits apiece. Infante got the start in Right Field giving Melky Cabrera the night off. Yunel Escobar also had two hits on the night. Braves pitchers held the Phillies to three total hits on the night.
The Braves will be back at it again on Wednesday with Kris Medlen on the mound. He will be opposed by 47 year old Jamie Moyer. The first pitch is slated for 7:05 ET.