PHILADELPHIA — For the better part of two days the Braves searched for a way to break loose on the Phillies in a series when no starting pitcher is giving much room.
Eric Hinske finally found an opening against the Phillies bullpen with a leadoff walk in the 11th inning Saturday, Alex Gonzalez followed with an RBI hit, and Brian McCann kicked down the door with a two-run homer.
In a matter of four batters, the Braves had broken through for a 4-1 win to even this series 1-1 and draw back to within 2 1/2 games of the Phillies in the National League East.
McCann’s swing gave the Braves their first cushion of more than one run in 21 innings of a series that has lived up to its pitching marquee. The Braves have neutralized both Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee with equally good pitching by Brandon Beachy and Tommy Hanson, leaving it to each bullpen to decide it.
“You come in here and you face arguably two of the best pitchers in the game,” McCann said. “You have to battle them for everything, and our pitchers are battling them pitch for pitch. It’s been fun to be a part of.”
The Braves’ bullpen flinched first in a 10-inning loss Friday night. It was the Phillies relievers who finally caved in the 11th on Saturday. They retired the first 15 Braves they faced in the series, including the first six Saturday afternoon before Hinske’s walk against Michael Stutes turned the tide.
Pinch runner Wilkin Ramirez was sacrificed to second by Jordan Schafer and scored on a single to right center by Gonzalez, who had been 5-for-50 in his previous 13 games before going 2-for-5 on Saturday.
“Finally,” said Gonzalez, who got a second chance in the at-bat after Ryan Howard dropped a pop-up in foul territory.
“I have to keep fighting to get my swing back. Today was a big hit. That’s what I was looking for a slider; he threw me a couple sliders last night. Credit to Mac for a great at-bat after that. Great win for us today.”
It was another great outing for Hanson, who made one last pitch for an All-Star game invitation with seven strong innings, allowing four hits and one run. His only blemish was a solo home run he gave up to Lee.
Hanson is 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA over his past six starts. Now he waits to hear if he’ll be asked to replace either Matt Cain or Cole Hamels on the NL staff, both of whom are scheduled to pitch Sunday and would therefore be ineligible for Tuesday’s game.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to make the All-Star team,” Hanson said. “I obviously do, but I don’t have any control over it. I have control over what I do on the mound every fifth day. And I went out there and did my job.”
Hanson had to leave Lee scratching his head. Lee couldn’t beat the Braves when he struck out 16 on May 6 at Citizens Bank Park, and he couldn’t beat them Saturday when he allowed one run in eight innings and hit his first major league home run.
Lee worked Hanson for 10 pitches in the third inning at-bat, drawing the crowd into it with every foul ball. Hanson finally reached back and tried to beat Lee with a belt-high fastball, only to watch it go over his head on the way to the right center field seats.
“I don’t know if it was that pitch or the pitch before, but I was just [thinking] ‘C’mon dude,’” Hanson said. “I had enough. ‘Just hit it. Do whatever you’re going to do.’ He had a homer, so good for him. My hat goes off to him.”
Dan Uggla showed Lee how easy it could be, though, tying the game with one swing to lead off the fifth for a solo shot to left field. The homer was Uggla’s 15th of the season, which put him a tie with McCann by games’ end for the team lead.
Now the Braves will try to break the series tie Sunday with Derek Lowe facing Hamels. Count on another close one.
“Those are two great games the last two days,” Uggla said. “I think that’s what you’re going to see from us and then pretty much every time we face off.”
