Braves pinch-hitters continue to shine

Alberto Callaspo’s pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning Sunday was the second of the season for the Braves, matching their total number of homers in 190 pinch-hit at-bats in 2014. It wasn’t enough to prevent a 5-4 loss to the Phillies, but it was another encouraging sign of the Braves’ improved bench.

It raised Atlanta’s pinch-hit batting average this season to a National League-leading .304 (7-for-23) this season, while the league’s next-best was .240 before Sunday. Braves pinch-hitters finished next-to-last in the NL with a .179 average last season, when they struck out in 63 of 190 pinch at-bats. They have three strikeouts in 23 at-bats this season.

“I think as a club we’ve been doing a great job with (pinch-hitting),” said veteran Jonny Gomes, a first-year Brave who is 2-for-4 with a homer as a pinch-hitter and leads active major leaguers with 10 pinch-hit homers.