Braves 1 - 2 Phillies
Final
  for this game

Asche, Lee lift Phillies past Braves

Sep 7, 2013 - 6:02 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Cody Asche hit a two-run homer in the seventh to back eight dominant innings from Cliff Lee, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game series.

Lee (12-6) gave up one run on two hits while striking out 10 for the Phillies, who snapped a two-game skid.

"It was a well-rounded baseball game," Lee said. "It really came down to one swing on either side."

Andrelton Simmons hit a homer for the Braves, who have dropped two straight since a two-game winning streak.

Mike Minor (13-6) took the hard-luck loss after giving up two runs on four hits while striking out nine over seven innings. The left-hander suffered his first loss since July 21.

"I threw a lot of quality pitches tonight, it just came at the wrong time for us and the right time for them," Minor said.

The Braves took a 1-0 lead on Simmons' homer to left in the third.

Philadelphia's first hit of the game didn't come until the fourth. Jimmy Rollins hit a bloop single to right but was thrown out while trying to stretch it into a double.

Minor continued to cruise on the mound until the seventh. Darin Ruf hit a two- out single to left and scored on Asche's homer to right-center field.

Meanwhile, Lee retired the final 13 batters he faced in order. Jonathan Papelbon worked around a two-out single in the ninth to record his 25th save of the season.

Game Notes

Despite Friday's loss, Atlanta is 8-5 against the Phillies this season ... Lee improved to 7-5 lifetime against the Braves ... In seven career games (six starts) against Philadelphia, Minor is 2-3 ... Atlanta started a seven-game road trip on Friday ... The Phillies have decided to move Ethan Martin to the bullpen and Tyler Cloyd to the rotation ... The Braves' magic number to clinch the NL East shrunk to nine after the Marlins beat the Nationals on Friday.






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