The Braves got a big dose of Cole Hamels. It left the bitter taste of a loss.
The Phillies left-hander scattered four hits over seven innings as he befuddled the Braves en route to a 2-1 victory Saturday night at Turner Field. Jimmy Rollins’ two-run homer was all the offense Hamels would need in the impressive outing.
Hamels struck out nine and walked none as 71 of his 95 pitches were strikes before he was lifted in the eighth inning.
The Braves (53-44) had a three-game win streak snapped as they dropped to 1-1 to start an 11-game homestand.
Rollins got the Phillies on the board when he crushed a Shae Simmons 2-2 pitch over the right field fence for a two-run homer in the seventh inning. It was Rollins’ 12th home run of the season and came ahead of a Grady Sizemore double.
The Braves answered in the bottom of the seventh as they pushed across a run on Chris Johnson’s RBI double. His hit followed a double from Justin Upton. The two hits matched the Braves’ hit total through six innings against Hamels.
Hamels stymied the Braves through most of the first five innings. Tommy La Stella delivered the Braves’ first hit with a two-out double in the fifth inning. The only other Brave to reach pass to that point was Jason Heyward, who was hit by a pitch in the second inning. Tyler Pastornicky led off the sixth with a pinch-hit single but would be caught stealing.
The Phillies (43-54) had a couple of chances to score early off Braves starter Aaron Harang. They loaded the bases with one out in the third inning. Ryan Howard hit a fly ball to right field that Heyward caught and threw a strike to catcher Christian Bethancourt, preventing Hamels from scoring from third base. Marlon Byrd followed with an inning-ending fielder’s choice. Heyward caught a Domonic Brown fly ball at the fence with one on in the sixth inning.
Harang pitched six innings and gave up five hits and three walks while striking out four.
Jonathan Papelbon earned the save for the Phillies.
Chasen Shreve, called up from Double-A Mississippi earlier in the day, made his major league debut in the seventh and struck out Howard to end the inning. He became the seventh Braves player to make his major league debut this season.
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