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Phillies-Braves Preview

Aug 16, 2009 - 1:20 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Philadelphia (65-48) at Atlanta (60-55), 8:05 p.m. EDT

With the recent arrival of two former Cy Young Award winners, left-hander J.A. Happ's role on the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching staff has repeatedly been in question.

Since Happ has been in the rotation, however, there's been nothing questionable about the rookie's performance.

Happ and the NL East-leading Phillies try to take two of three from the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night when they close out their six-game trip.

Rumored to be part of a deal for Toronto's Roy Halladay, Happ (8-2, 2.75 ERA) was happy to remain with the defending World Series champions, who passed on the Blue Jays' ace and acquired reigning AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee from Cleveland before the July 31 trade deadline.

With the addition this week of three-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia was forced to reshuffle its rotation.

Happ got the nod while 256-game winner Jamie Moyer was demoted to the bullpen.

"Happ's not going anywhere," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Aug. 5 after Happ struck out a career-high 10 and led Philadelphia to a 7-0 win with a four-hitter versus Colorado. "He deserves to stay in the rotation."

Since replacing the ineffective Chan Ho Park on May 23, Happ is 6-2 with a 2.81 ERA as a starter.

Happ, who has the majors' best road ERA at 1.84, makes his second start and third appearance against Atlanta. In a 5-2 loss at Turner Field on July 2, the southpaw went seven innings and allowed two runs and seven hits, while not receiving a decision.

Philadelphia (65-49) was on the verge of winning its fifth straight Saturday and moving seven games ahead of the Braves in the division, but Brad Lidge blew his major league-worst eighth save by yielding two ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 loss. Lidge also committed two errors on a Matt Diaz sacrifice in the inning to become the fifth player in the last 55 years to be charged with two errors, a blown save and a loss in the same contest.

"Right now my stuff is as good as it's been in two years," said Lidge, who was 48 of 48 in save opportunities in 2008, including the playoffs. "I'm trying to go after guys."

Omar Infante's game-winning single off Lidge on Saturday gave Atlanta (61-55) its eighth win in 11 games versus Philadelphia this season.

Braves catcher Brian McCann hit his first homer since July 30 with a two-run shot off Cole Hamels in the third inning. McCann is 0 for 7 with two strikeouts lifetime versus Happ.

Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth matched a career high Saturday with his 24th homer. He is batting .368 with three home runs and eight RBIs in 23 career games at Turner Field.

Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard went hitless Saturday but drove in a run for the sixth straight game with a groundout in the second inning.

Braves right-hander Javier Vazquez (10-7, 2.90) is 5-0 with a 2.49 ERA in six starts since not getting a decision in the July 2 matchup with Happ.

Vazquez reached double-digit victories for the 10th straight season in Sunday's 8-2 win at Los Angeles, where the Braves took three of four from the NL West-leading Dodgers.

"We're playing great baseball right now," Vazquez said after surrendering one run and five hits over eight innings.

Vazquez, second in the NL with 171 strikeouts, is 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts versus the Phillies this season.

Braves center fielder Nate McLouth is expected to miss Sunday's series finale (left hamstring) while second baseman Martin Prado should be available after leaving Saturday with a heat-related issue.