Atlanta Braves defeat Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 - MLB Recap
Jair Jurrjens pitched into the sixth inning and Martin Prado collected three runs, as the Atlanta Braves held on for a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies to even their three-game series, at Turner Field, Atlanta on Friday, May 13.
Jurrjens allowed three runs in seven innings, surrendering only three hits and a walk while striking-out six for his second win over Philadelphia this week. He limited them to one run in six innings.
"Every game we win against the Phillies is a big one," Jurrjens said. "It's like winning a playoff game."
Prado and Nate McLouth hit back-to-back lead-off home runs for the Braves, who had lost the series opening game by a score of 5-4.
Joe Blanton gave up two runs in five innings in the losing effort, as he allowed only five hits and walked one.
Prado and McLouth got Atlanta off to a good start as they began the first innings by hitting sinkers in the zone to left and centre-field, respectively to give the Braves a 2-0 edge.
Blanton took control of the play from there, holding Atlanta off the scoreboard for the remainder of his start. Jurrjens was outstanding as he retired the first 15 batters he faced and took the first hit out of the sixth inning when a Wilson Valdez’s sharp
grounder hit off his foot.
Jurrjens then struck out Dane Sardinha for the ninth spot in Philadelphia’s order. However, he did not face Blanton, who was benched after throwing 74 pitches. Pinch-hitter Michael Martinez replaced him and spoiled Jurrjens' bid for a perfect game or no-hitter
as he lined a single into centre-field.
Martinez then rushed around to score when Jimmy Rollins followed with a double to the wall in right-field, cutting Philadelphia’s margin in half. Their opportunity for an equaliser in the inning finished when Rollins was caught in a rundown between second
and third. Then the opportunity of knotting the game in subsequent at-bats became harder when Philadelphia’s bullpen failed to hold the score in the bottom half.
J.C. Romero then let a one-out walk to Dan Uggla. Freddie Freeman threw a ball to short and Rollins tried to get the force out at second base, but Uggla was whistled safe on a close play.
Phillies’ situation did not get better when Kyle Kendrick came in to pitch. He retired the first batter he faced and got a chance to get Philadelphia out of the inning when David Ross bunted up the third base line.
Kendrick slid right over the ball as Uggla scored. He made the situation worse by walking Jurrjens to load the bases and Prado took advantage, lining a two-run single to centre for a 5-1 edge.
The Phillies then plated two runs in the eighth as Valdez hit an RBI double that ended Jurrjens' day and later John Mayberry Jr. scored on a groundout to cut the deficit to 5-3. However, Craig Kimbrel preserved the victory and earned his ninth save with
a scoreless ninth.
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