Jun 27, 2014
Phillies, Braves jockey for position in Philadelphia
Despite being six games under .500, the Philadelphia Phillies have hope of moving up in the NL East race this weekend when they tangle with the Atlanta Braves in a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies come into the day four games behind the second-place Braves and five in back of the division-leading Washington Nationals.
The Sports Network
(SportsNetwork.com) - Despite being six games under .500, the Philadelphia Phillies have hope of moving up in the NL East race this weekend when they tangle with the Atlanta Braves in a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies come into the day four games behind the second-place Braves and five in back of the division-leading Washington Nationals.
Thursday produced Philadelphia's seventh win in 11 games when Chase Utley belted a two-run homer in the 14th inning in a 5-3 final over the Miami Marlins.
Jimmy Rollins reached on an infield single to begin the inning before Utley slammed his sixth homer into the seats in the right to make a winner out of Justin De Fratus (2-0), who allowed a hit and a walk over two scoreless innings of relief.
Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels gave up three solo home runs among six hits and struck out seven without a walk in seven innings of work. He had surrendered just four homers in his first 12 starts this season.
Kyle Kendrick, who is 2-0 over his last three home starts, gets the ball tonight for the Phillies. Kendrick is coming off a loss at St. Louis Sunday. He's 12-3 lifetime against the Marlins with a 3.75 ERA in 23 games (18 starts). Kendrick lost his only start this season against the Marlins, giving up seven hits and six runs in 5 2/3 innings on May 21 in Miami.
Julio Teheran, who is 0-2 over his last three starts, counters on the mound for Atlanta. Teheran piled up a season-high 10 strikeouts over seven innings last Saturday at Washington, but the Braves lost 3-0.
Teheran is 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA in six games (five starts) versus the Phillies. He threw a three-hit shutout at Citizens Bank Park on April 16.
The Braves suffered a 6-1 loss at Houston Thursday afternoon. Atlanta starter Mike Minor (2-5) was reached for five runs over six innings. The Braves were trying for a three-game sweep.
"It's important for us to be able to go into Philly and try to win that series," Braves outfielder Justin Upton said.
The Phillies swept a three-game set at Atlanta June 16-18. Philadelphia leads the season series, 4-2.