Phillies vs. Braves July 8-10 Series Thread

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If it seems to you that the Phillies are stuck in a Groundhog Day scenario, you're not alone. For the most part, it's not a bad thing, as the Phils have taken two of three games in each of their past five series. In four of those, including the last three in a row, they've won the first two contests, only to be denied a sweep by dropping the finale. If there is a negative to be taken, it's the fact that the Phillies have been unable to hang on to four-run leads in the past two finales, including their most recent series against the Marlins in Florida. Now the Phils make a quick stop home before entering the All-Star break

The opponent for this final series before the break will be the Atlanta Braves, who completed a 6-1 homestand by sweeping the Colorado Rockies in a four-game series. The Phillies are 4-5 against the Braves so far this season, taking two of three in Atlanta April 8-10 and losing two of three in Philadelphia May 6-8 and at Turner Field May 13-15. The teams will meet again at Citizens Bank Park September 5-7 before wrapping up the regular season in Atlanta September 26-28

Pitching Matchups

Friday (7:05, Comcast SportsNet): Roy Halladay vs. Brandon Beachy

Halladay had a happy homecoming in his last start, going the distance against the Toronto Blue Jays to pick up a 5-3 victory in his first start as a visitor at Rogers Centre. He struck out eight while allowing three runs on eight hits in nine innings. Halladay suffered a complete game loss at the hands of the Braves on May 15 of this season, allowing three runs on eight hits over eight innings in a 3-2 loss. Lifetime against Atlanta, he is 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA in six appearances, five of which are starts

Beachy allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings against the Baltimore Orioles in his last start, getting a no-decision in a game the Braves lost by a score of 5-4. His only loss of the season to date came at the hands of the Phillies on April 9, when he allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings in a 10-2 defeat. In fact, all three of Beachy's career losses have come against the Phils, as he is 0-3 with a 5.00 ERA in four starts against them

Saturday (4:10, Fox): Cliff Lee vs. Tommy Hanson

Lee had a personal five-game winning streak and 34-inning scoreless streak snapped against the Blue Jays in his last start, as he allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits over 7.1 innings in a 7-4 loss as four Toronto runs on three home runs in the eighth proved to be the difference. Lee is 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA in two starts against the Braves this season, including a 16-strikeout effort in a 5-0 setback on May 6. He's 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta

Hanson made it five winning starts in a row last time out, allowing a run on four hits over seven innings in a 4-1 victory over the Rockies. He was 1-0 with a 1.21 ERA in four starts against the Phillies last season and is 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Phils

Sunday (1:35, PHL 17): Cole Hamels vs. Derek Lowe

Hamels rolled to a 14-2 victory over the Marlins last time out, allowing two runs on eight hits over eight innings and showing very few ill effects from the bruised right hand that caused him to leave his previous start against the Boston Red Sox after four shutout frames. He is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three starts against the Braves this season and is 10-6 with a 3.83 ERA in 22 lifetime starts against Atlanta

Lowe picked up a 5-3 win over the Rockies in his last start, allowing three runs on five hits over 5.1 innings. He is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Phillies this season and is 8-5 with two saves and a 2.99 ERA in 20 career regular season appearances (16 starts) against them. Lowe was 0-1 with a 3.48 ERA in two starts against the Phils in the 2008 NLCS while with the Los Angeles Dodgers

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Sort of in a holding pattern here with the series opener. Tarp was taken off a little after 8:00, but then the rain started again. Umpires are going to discuss things with the managers. Both starting pitchers have warmed up, so it wouldn't be the most ideal situation to delay it again

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Tarp comes back on, which probably isn't a good sign for getting this one in tonight. Braves do visit one more time this season, so there wouldn't necessarily have to be a doubleheader this weekend if tonight's game gets rained out

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Rain has halted, just about set to go

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Underway against the Braves

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Official rain delay time is one hour and 54 minutes

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Three up, three down for Halladay in the first. Time to see what the offense can do against Beachy

[Jimmerz]

hahah hey speaking of Ryan Howard..

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No hurt for Beachy in the first after Utley singles with two outs

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Jones singles to start the second. Got jammed and dunked it into right

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Jones moves up to second on a Ruiz passed ball. Chooch having a weird inning

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Freeman singles to score Jones with the game's first run. Is it true French babes don't shave their pits?

http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsR/14332-8694.gif

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Freeman moves up to second on a wild pitch

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No further damage for the Braves in the second after Freeman's single gives them a 1-0 lead in the second

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Ibanez singles to start the second, just as Wheels was verbally fellating Beachy

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Ibanez moves up to second on a balk with no outs. Beachy flinched while looking for the sign, but his foot was still on the rubber

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Ruiz follows with a base hit up the middle, Ibanez holds at third. Wasn't hit very hard, but Schaefer got to it in a hurry

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With one out, Valdez flies to right but it's deep enough for Ibanez to tag and score, 1-1

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So a passed ball leads to a run in the top of the inning and a balk leads to a run in the bottom half. We're all even

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Halladay goes down looking to retire the side. Valdez's sac fly makes it 1-1 after two

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Phillies assistant GM Benny Looper joining T-Mac and Wheels in the booth

You know, a caddy, a looper, a jock

http://pbpl.physics.ucla.edu/About_Us/Bios/Carl_Spackler/caddy01.jpg

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Halladay with a 1-2-3 third

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Rollins singles to start the third

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Mayberry just gets under one and flies to the track in left-center for the first out. McCann, among others, thought that ball was out off the bat. On many other summer nights, it probably is

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the third, 1-1 heading to the fourth

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McCann singles to start the fourth

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Jones splits the gap in right-center for a double, McCann holds at third with no outs

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Uggla grounds one down the line at third, Valdez makes the grab and looks home but has no play, then throws to first but not in time to get Uggla. Infield single scores McCann, Braves lead 2-1

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Heyward rolls into a 4-6 fielder's choice for the second out, Jones to third. Jones held at second on the Uggla infield single

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McLouth pops to Howard to retire the side. Braves get a run in the fourth to lead 2-1

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PANAMANIA! Ruiz lines one just over the fence in left for a solo homer with one out in the fourth, and we're tied again, it's 2-2

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Brown reaches on an infield single, Valdez goes the other way for a base hit to send Brown to third with one out. Thought that might make it to the corner at first, but Heyward was able to cut it off

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Halladay bunts Valdez up to second

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Rollins flies to right to end the inning. Had a hanger but got out in front. Phils get a run in the fourth, 2-2 as we move on to the fifth

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Halladay retires the Braves in order in the fifth

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Phils go down in order in the fifth, 2-2 heading to the sixth

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Halladay sets the Braves down in order in the sixth

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Ruiz is hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth, Brown follows with a base hit to put runners at first and second

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Valdez pops behind first, but Freeman is able to make a basket catch over his shoulder for the second out

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Halladay goes down swinging to end the inning. On to the seventh, 2-2

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Ruiz takes an Uggla foul ball to the throat leading off the seventh, but he's OK

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With two outs, McLouth splits the gap in left-center out of the reach of a diving Mayberry for a triple. Ibanez overran it, but McLouth looked like he was digging for third anyway

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No worries as Hinske bats for Beachy and flies to Ibanez to retire the side

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O'Flaherty now pitching for the Braves

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Phils go down in order in the seventh, 2-2 heading to the eighth

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Stutes now pitching

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Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi...

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Three up, three down for Stutes in the eighth

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Venters now pitching for the Braves

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Howard dribbles one to third where nobody's playing, it'll be a base hit to start the eighth

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Ibanez replaces Howard on the bases after grounding into a 3-6 fielder's choice and moves up to second when Ruiz walks with one out

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Brown grounds to second, Uggla loses the handle but is able to nip Brown for the second out. Brown ran that one out, no need for that discussion

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Valdez goes down swinging to end the inning. We go to the ninth, 2-2

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Bastardo now pitching

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Bastardo sets the Braves down in order in the ninth

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Linebrink now pitching for the Braves

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Rollins singles with one out in the ninth

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Rollins takes off, Braves pitch out and Rollins is gunned down for the second out

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Mayberry walks with two outs. That'll be the last batter Linebrink faces, Sherrill will take over

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Utley lines to short to end the inning. On to the 10th, 2-2

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Perez now pitching

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Perez strikes out Heyward, McLouth, and Ramirez (batting for Sherrill) on nine pitches in the 10th

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Proctor now pitching for the Braves

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Howard lines one towards the gap in left-center leading off the 10th, but Schaefer makes a diving grab

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESTA PELOTA NO REGRESA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ibanez smokes one to the seats in right and the Phillies win it, 3-2!!!!!!!!!!!! First walkoff homer for the Phils this season gives them the opener of this three game series. Perez gets the win after becoming the second pitcher in Phillies history to strike out the side on nine pitches in an inning. Stutes and Bastardo also worked 1-2-3 innings after Halladay struck out seven while allowing two runs in seven innings. Lee vs. Hanson tomorrow as the Phils go for the series win

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First career victory for Perez

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/TonyRona/ani/aniJuanPerez.gif

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The Spanish call of Ibanez's walkoff by Danny Martinez last night:

http://www.thefightins.com/meechone/%C2%A1la-pelota-no-regresa-raul-walks-it-off-against-the-braves/

ESTA PELOTA NO REGRESA!

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Underway in the middle game

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Lee works around a one-out single by Gonzalez in the first. Time to see what the offense can do against Hanson

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Phils go down in order in the first

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Three up, three down for Lee in the second

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No hurt for Hanson in the second after Ruiz singles with two outs. Scoreless after two

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Lee with a 1-2-3 third

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CLIFTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jimmerz]

HAHAH BEST HOME RUN CALL EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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With one out in the third, Lee sends one up and out over the wall in right-center for his first career homer and the Phillies take a 1-0 lead

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Jair Jurrjens was impressed by that one

[Jimmerz]

"I SO HAPPY!!!"

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Rollins sends one to the track on the next pitch, but Heyward has this one a few steps shy of the wall

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Mayberry chops to third to end the inning, but not before Lee's first career homer gives the Phils a 1-0 lead after three

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"I SO HAPPY!!!"

At work right now, so I don't have that immediately at my disposal. Will have to dig for it because that reaction was priceleless

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Last home run by a Phillies pitcher: Chan Ho Park on April 25, 2009 against the Marlins

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Lee sets the Braves down in order in the fourth

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Phils go down in order in the fourth, they lead 1-0 as we move on to the fifth

[Jimmerz]

**** you Uggla

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Uggla sends Lee's first pitch of the fifth to the seats in left and we're tied, 1-1

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Lugo walks with one out, but no further damage for the Braves in the fifth after Uggla's homer ties it, 1-1

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Phils go down in order in the fifth, 1-1 heading to the sixth

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Lee sets the Braves aside in order in the sixth

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Mayberry doubles with two outs in the sixth, Utley walks to give the Phillies a pair of baserunners

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Howard goes down swinging to end the inning. On to the seventh, 1-1

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No hurt for Lee in the seventh after walking Heyward with two outs

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Ibanez pokes one the other way for a base hit on Hanson's first pitch of the seventh

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the seventh, 1-1 heading to the eighth

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With two outs in the eighth, Schaefer bunts, Lee makes a diving grab but throws the ball away and Schaefer makes it to second

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Gonzalez goes down swinging to retire the side

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Venters now pitching for the Braves

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Francisco batting for Lee

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Phils go down in order in the eighth. We go to the ninth, 1-1

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Bastardo now pitching

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Three up, three down for Bastardo in the ninth

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O'Flaherty now pitching for the Braves

[Jimmerz]

Uggla was about to get run there

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Uggla had some words for home plate ump Mike Everitt after being called out on strikes to retire the side, but the pitch looked like it was right there

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Uggla was about to get run there

A lot of umps woulda tossed him, especially those guys from the Florida series

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Phils go down in order in the ninth. On to the 10th, 1-1

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Perez now pitching

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Perez with a 1-2-3 10th, just two strikeouts this time

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Sherrill now pitching for the Braves

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With two outs in the 10th, Valdez grounds one in the hole the other way, knocked down by Uggla but no play, base hit for Valdez

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Martinez bats for Perez and singles past a diving Freeman, Valdez to third with two outs

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Rollins walks to load the bases

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Mayberry grounds to first to end the inning, 1-1 heading to the 11th

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Stutes now pitching

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Hinske bats for Sherrill and walks to start the 11th. Ramirez will run for him

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Schaefer bunts Ramirez up to second

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Howard is unable to bake a basket catch on a Gonzalez pop foul and it proves costly as Gonzalez singles to score Ramirez, Braves lead 2-1

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McCann gets on a hanging curve and sends it to the seats in right for a two-run homer to make it 4-1

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Sutes gets Freeman and Uggla swinging to retire the side, but not before the Braves put three on the board in the 11th to lead, 4-1. Last chance for the Phillies coming up

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Kimbrel now pitching for the Braves

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Utley flies to left, one away

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Howard grounds to short in the shift, two down

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Ibanez flies to left to end it, Braves win 4-1 in 11. Stutes gets his first loss, Howard's misplay in the 11th proves critical. Lee hits his first career homer and allows a run on three hits while striking out nine in eight innings, but gets a no-decision. Hamels vs. Lowe in the rubber match tomorrow

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Was there today, Phillies win the series in a big way as they set a new season-high with 20 hits in a 14-1 laugher over the Braves. Hamels went eight innings, allowing a run on three hits for his 11th win. Ibanez knocked in six, including a three-run homer. Mayberry had three doubles and four RBI. Martinez had four hits, Rollins and Brown had three each. Phils enter the All-Star break with a 57-34 record, 3.5 games ahead of Atlanta in the NL East. Next game is Friday against the Mets in New York