Reds 3 - 1 Braves
Final
  for this game

Phillips, Reds top Braves 3-1

May 15, 2012 - 3:04 AM

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Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Brandon Phillips hit a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the eighth and the Reds downed the Braves, 3-1, in the opener of a two-game series on Monday.

It was 1-1 entering the eighth when Phillips launched a slider from Jonny Venters (2-2) off the wall in center field, plating Drew Stubbs, who reached on an infield single to start the inning.

"To tell you the truth, I'm just happy that I hit the ball out of the infield," joked Phillips. "(Reds beat writer) John Fay knows when I know I hit a home run, I will pimp it, so I sure didn't pimp that one."

Phillips came around to score on a double from Chris Heisey, who finished the game with three hits, and Sean Marshall shut the door in the ninth for his sixth save of the season as the Reds won their second straight.

Logan Ondrusek (3-0) got the victory after recording the final out of the seventh for starter Homer Bailey, who allowed one run on six hits and two walks.

Atlanta starter Randall Delgado received a no-decision after tossing 6 2/3 innings and giving up just one unearned run on four hits and three walks. Martin Prado finished with two hits and plated the only run for the Braves, who were coming off a three-game sweep of St. Louis over the weekend.

The Reds capitalized on an Atlanta miscue in the top of the fourth after Jay Bruce and Heisey smacked consecutive two-out singles.

Todd Frazier followed with a ground ball to shortstop Tyler Pastornicky, who flipped to second for the force out. But no one was there to cover the bag, allowing Bruce to score as the ball trickled through the infield.

"It's unacceptable," remarked Pastornicky about his gaffe. "With two outs I have to go to first with that. It's just kind of one of those learning experiences. You gotta take it for how it is and move on."

In the fifth, Michael Bourn ripped a one-out triple into the right-field corner and quickly scored on a sacrifice fly from Prado to knot the game at 1-1, but neither team would score again until Phillips' double in the eighth.

Game Notes

The two teams split six meetings last season...Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman left the game in the eighth inning with blurred vision in his right eye...Tuesday's matchup features two righties as Tim Hudson toes the rubber for Atlanta against Johnny Cueto for the Reds.






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