Final
Braves-Phillies Preview
Aug 1, 2015 - 4:38 AM With Cole Hamels' storied tenure over in Philadelphia, the path is clear for highly touted Aaron Nola to push toward becoming the Phillies' No. 1 starter.Nola will try to continue that work Saturday night when he pitches opposite Atlanta Braves prospect Matt Wisler.
Hamels concluded his 10 seasons in Philadelphia, an era that included winning the 2008 World Series MVP and a no-hitter last Saturday, with a trade to Texas on Friday. With their NL-worst 40-64 record, the Phillies have started rebuilding for the future, and Nola has the potential to play a significant role.
The right-hander took a 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay in his major league debut July 21 and got an 11-5 victory at the Chicago Cubs on Sunday in the encore to Hamels' no-hitter. Nola (1-1, 3.29 ERA) gave up two runs in his first seven innings and a two-run homer in the eighth.
"I'm just soaking as much as I can in right now," he told MLB's official website. "Being a part of all this is pretty amazing."
Nola will try to lead Philadelphia to its 12th win in 14 games facing Wisler (5-1, 3.43), making his eighth start. Both 22-year-old pitchers will make their first appearances in the NL East rivalry.
The Braves right-hander has won four consecutive decisions after a 3-2 victory in St. Louis on Sunday, Atlanta's lone one in the past nine games and only one in its last 13 road contests.
"He's a real competitive guy and he's going out there and giving it his all," catcher Ryan Lavarnway said. "He's got great stuff, so as he continues to grow, I'm excited to watch him."
Wisler yielded two runs in seven innings, and the Braves (46-57) could use another such performance following a 9-3 loss Friday.
Ryan Howard helped send Atlanta to a season high-tying fifth consecutive defeat by driving in a season-best four runs and Domonic Brown continued his hot hitting by going 2 for 5 with a two-run homer.
"It's been great, a total team effort on both sides of the ball," Howard said.
Brown is batting .424 (14 for 33) in his last eight games and has homered in each of the first two in this series. The Phillies were playing their first contest without leadoff hitter, Ben Revere, who was traded to Toronto on Friday.
Philadelphia is 11-2 since the All-Star break and looks to send the Braves to their first six-game overall skid since an 0-8 road trip July 29-Aug. 6, 2014. Atlanta is batting .220 while being outscored 34-14 in its last nine games.
"Right now we're not scoring runs," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "When you're down four runs in the first inning, it makes it tough, but our guys kept busting it."
Philadelphia will also seek a fourth consecutive win against Atlanta and try to win four in a row at home over the Braves for the first time since July 10-Sept. 7 2011.
- ATLANTA: 2
PHILADELPHIA: 12
Final
Aug 1 10:00 PM - Galvis homered to right on a 2-0 count, Franco scored, D.Brown scored.
Braves 2, Phillies 12 Bot 6, 2 OutsAug 1 9:10 PM - Freddy Galvis homers to right field. Domonic Brown scores. Maikel Franco scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 12 Bot 6, 2 OutsAug 1 9:10 PM - D.Brown grounded into fielder's choice, third baseman Ad.Garcia to second baseman J.Peterson, O.Herrera scored, Franco to third, D.Brown to first, Howard out.
Braves 2, Phillies 9 Bot 6, 2 OutsAug 1 9:09 PM - Domonic Brown reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Ryan Howard out at second. Maikel Franco to third. Odubel Herrera scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 9 Bot 6, 1 OutAug 1 9:08 PM - Franco doubled to left, A.Blanco scored, O.Herrera to third.
Braves 2, Phillies 8 Bot 6, 1 OutAug 1 9:05 PM - Maikel Franco doubles to deep left field. Odubel Herrera to third. Andres Blanco scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 8 Bot 6, 1 OutAug 1 9:04 PM - Domonic Brown singles to left field. Ryan Howard scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 7 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 1 8:41 PM - Rupp homered to center on a 0-0 count, Howard scored, Asche scored.
Braves 2, Phillies 5 Bot 4, 2 OutsAug 1 8:20 PM - Cameron Rupp homers to center field. Cody Asche scores. Ryan Howard scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 5 Bot 4, 2 OutsAug 1 8:19 PM - Ryan Howard singles to right center field. Maikel Franco scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsAug 1 8:12 PM - Franco hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder E.Perez, C.Hernandez scored.
Braves 2, Phillies 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsAug 1 7:24 PM - Maikel Franco out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Eury Perez. Cesar Hernandez scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 1 Bot 1, 1 OutAug 1 7:24 PM - A.J. Pierzynski singles to center field. Freddie Freeman scores.
Braves 2, Phillies 0 Top 1, 1 OutAug 1 7:14 PM - ATLANTA: 0
PHILADELPHIA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 1 7:07 PM
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