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Braves cruise past Phillies

Apr 4, 2013 - 5:09 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Justin Upton and Jason Heyward each hit two-run homers, Evan Gattis added a solo shot and the Atlanta Braves knocked out Roy Halladay in the fourth inning in a 9-2 drubbing of the Philadelphia Phillies at a rainy Turner Field.

Freddie Freeman went 2-for-3 with a three-run double to follow up his three- hit, three-RBI performance in Atlanta's season-opening win on Monday.

Paul Maholm (1-0) scattered six hits and a walk over 5 2/3 scoreless frames to pick up the victory, while Halladay (0-1) surrendered five runs on six hits with an uncharacteristic three walks over 3 1/3 innings.

"I'm frustrated. I should have gone deeper than that," Halladay said of his short outing. "Obviously horrible conditions to pitch in. It made it no fun, but that's no excuse."

Chase Utley drove in both of Philadelphia's runs with a double in the seventh, but by that time the Braves were working with a 7-0 cushion.

Halladay had his streak of 10 consecutive Opening Day starts end Monday when Cole Hamels got the nod for the Phillies, who were somewhat cautious with the two-time Cy Young Award winner because of a rough spring training following his injury-ridden 2012 campaign.

Those concerns became reality when Halladay labored through a 40-pitch first inning and never fully recovered despite finishing with nine punchouts.

Heyward reached on a broken-bat single before Upton sent a low 1-2 offering just over the wall in right-center for his second homer in as many games with his new club. The usually-controlled Halladay walked two of the next three hitters, then gave up a run-scoring base hit to Juan Francisco.

"Any time we can jump ahead against a pitcher like Halladay is a plus for us. It gives (Maholm) a chance to settle in and get himself going," Upton said.

Though the first seven outs he recorded were strikeouts, Halladay was clearly not at his best, as Gattis led off the fourth with a home run to left field. It was the 26-year-old catcher's second career at-bat.

Halladay was mercifully pulled later in the inning after Andrelton Simmons sent his 95th pitch into center field for a single. Raul Valdes entered from the bullpen and walked the first two hitters he faced to load the bases, and Freeman promptly cleared them with a gapper to left field for a 7-0 lead.

Maholm stranded runners in each of the first four innings -- three in scoring position -- and left during the sixth after throwing 97 pitches.

Heyward's two-run blast in the eighth came off Jonathan Papelbon.

Game Notes

The Braves go for the three-game sweep on Thursday with Kris Medlen toeing the rubber opposite Cliff Lee ... Heyward scored three runs ... The Phillies went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine ... Halladay was searching for career win No. 200.