You can’t ask for better two-out results.
The Braves had nine of 10 hits and five of six runs come with two outs en route to a 6-4 victory over the Phillies Friday night at Turner Field.
The victory, coupled with the Nationals loss to the Brewers, moves the Braves into sole possession of first place in the N.L. East.
Not a bad way to return from the All-Star break.
“You never know how you are going to come out after four days of not playing baseball,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
The Braves scored four times in the bottom of the second inning. Jason Heyward led off with his ninth home run of the year, depositing a 1-1 changeup from A.J. Burnett over the right field wall. The Braves then got two-out hits from Christian Bethancourt, Ervin Santana, B.J. Upton and Andrelton Simmons. Upton plated a run with a double for this 500th career RBI. Simmons drove in two with a single.
The Phillies pushed across two runs in the top of the second thanks to a pair of walks. Ryan Howard and Marlon Byrd led off the frame with the free passes. Howard scored on a sacrifice fly by Cody Asche and Byrd scored on an RBI single from Cameron Rupp. The Braves escaped further damage when Burnett attempted a bunt that turned into a 3-6-4 double play. Freddie Freeman fielded the ball, threw to Simmons covering second and on to La Stella covering first.
“That was unbelievable,” Gonzalez said. “That was improvised by Freeman. We don’t even work on that play. It was a slash by A.J. It wasn’t a bunt. For him to hold his ground on that ball and then turn it to Simmons. There are a lot of moving pieces there that you don’t really work on that play. Then Simmons hitting La Stella coming from second base to cover first base. It was one of the best plays I’ve seen anybody make.”
The Braves scored twice in the fifth inning without four straight two-out hits. Justin Upton doubled and he was followed by singles from Heyward (1 RBI), Chris Johnson and Tommy La Stella (1 RBI). The Braves took a 6-2 with five of their runs and nine of their 10 hits coming with two out.
The Phillies scored twice in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Howard.
The Braves turned in two more defensive gems. After a Jimmy Rollins walk, Bethancourt completed a strike-out, throw-out for a double play. Heyward ended the inning by diving to catch a line drive from Howard.
“The play in right, that situation in the game because you know it’s only a two-run game and if you let them keep having at-bats then maybe they put up another run or two but defense is going to win the game, at the end of the day,” Heyward said of the better moment between his home run and diving catch. “But (the home run is) good to start scoring runs and it got us going a little bit.”
The Braves (53-43) won their third straight game to open an 11-game homestand. Santana (8-6) worked six innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs for the victory. He walked three and struck out one.
“It was good,” Santana said of his outing. “The good thing is we got the win. It was a tough battle today. Finally we got some hits together and we got the win.”
Shae Simmons, Jordan Walden and Craig Kimbrel combined for three hitless innings in relief. Kimbrel earned his 30th save.
The Braves got at least one hit from all nine starters except Freeman. Heyward went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Johnson had a pair of singles.
The Braves held an optional workout Thursday. Gonzalez said every pitcher and eight position players showed up to get some work in prior to the second half of the season.
“You never know what you are going to get after a three-day break,” Johnson said. “That was what we were all thinking going up to the plate. I don’t know what to expect after four days off. It was nice. We had some nice swings. We stayed short to the ball today and we didn’t give up with two outs and scored some runs.”
Burnett took the loss for the last-place Phillies (42-54). Grady Sizemore had two hits.
