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Phillies-Braves Preview

Jun 29, 2009 - 8:32 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Philadelphia (39-34) at Atlanta (35-40), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies finished their interleague schedule with a pair of wins, but they may be thrilled to get back to facing NL opposition again. Visiting the Atlanta Braves for the first time this season might make the NL East leaders even happier.

The Phillies look to continue their road dominance of the Braves on Tuesday night when the division rivals open a three-game series.

Philadelphia (39-34) beat Toronto 5-4 on Sunday following a 10-0 win a day earlier. Those victories, however, came after the Phillies dropped nine of their previous 10 - all in interleague play. Prior to that slump, they had won 10 of their previous 13 against NL opponents.

Overall, Philadelphia went 6-12 against the AL this year after going 4-11 last regular season - a combined 10-23 (.303) mark. The Phillies are a league-best 121-81 (.599) within the NL over the same span.

They have dropped four of six home meetings this season to Atlanta (35-40), but took all nine matchups at Turner Field last season and have won 14 of their last 17 there.

Jimmy Rollins has played a key role in that success, hitting .310 with six doubles, four triples, a homer and six RBIs over the last 17 games at Atlanta.

The shortstop wasn't nearly as productive in the six home games against the Braves this season, going 2 for 28 with three RBIs.

A return to Turner could help Rollins, who is enduring one of the most difficult seasons of his career. while being benched for the last four games. The three-time All-Star, a career .274 hitter, has a .211 average with six homers and 27 RBIs, and was benched by manager Charlie Manuel for the last four games.

"I felt it was very important to let him sit over there and kind of get a clear mind when I put him back there so he's fresh," Manuel told the Phillies' official Web site. "He's starting all over. That's why I wanted to do it. I think it's going to help. We'll see the way he performs and the way he goes about playing."

Manuel will give the ball to Joe Blanton (4-4, 5.06), who has a 3.20 ERA in his last four starts but only an 0-1 record to show for it. The Phillies have lost all four of those contests while providing him only nine runs of total support.

The right-hander was solid again Wednesday, allowing two runs and six hits while fanning 10 in seven innings, but got charged with a 7-1 loss at Tampa Bay.

Blanton has struggled in three career starts against the Braves, going 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA. He was hit hard in his last matchup against them May 9, giving up six runs and eight hits - including two homers - in eight innings of a 6-2 defeat.

Atlanta halted a four-game losing streak by beating AL-leading Boston 2-1 on Sunday behind a superb effort from rookie Tommy Hanson, who held the Red Sox to two hits in six shutout innings.

Derek Lowe (7-6, 4.53) will try to pick up where Hanson left off as he attempts to end a personal three-game losing streak, during which he's posted a 12.34 ERA.

The right-hander lasted only three innings Thursday, surrendering eight runs and 11 hits in an 11-7 loss to the New York Yankees.

"Terrible," Lowe said. "Three in a row. Obviously, (Thursday) was a disaster."

Lowe, though, is 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his last seven starts against the Phillies. He was outstanding against them April 5, yielding two hits in eight scoreless innings of a 4-1 win.