Final
Braves-Phillies Preview
May 9, 2010 - 2:10 AMVideo
Atlanta (12-17) at Philadelphia (18-11), 1:35 p.m. EDT
The Philadelphia Phillies' four-game winning streak is over, but they still have a chance to close out their 10-game homestand with a third series victory.
Facing Kenshin Kawakami should give them an excellent chance.
Kawakami has lost all five starts while receiving little run support, and the Braves may not have Jason Heyward available to face Cole Hamels in the decisive game of their series with the NL East-leading Phillies on Sunday afternoon.
Since opening the homestand with a 9-1 loss to New York on April 30, Philadelphia (18-12) had been coming through with plenty of big hits. The Phillies hit 13 homers - three apiece by Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth - while winning six of seven, with Werth's three-run shot supporting Jamie Moyer's two-hit shutout in a 7-0 win in this series' opener Friday.
With manager Charlie Manuel away to attend his daughter's wedding Saturday and Chase Utley given a day to rest, Philadelphia managed just nine hits - all singles - in a 4-1 loss.
"We couldn't get the big hit and get the momentum going," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "We had opportunities early but kept stranding runners."
Manuel and Utley are due back Sunday, and based on how the Braves (13-17) have performed when Kawakami (0-5, 5.47 ERA) has been on the hill, Philadelphia could get back on track.
Atlanta has scored eight runs in the right-hander's five starts, getting shut out twice.
Kawakami gave up three runs and two homers over five innings in a 6-3 loss at Washington on Tuesday.
"It's not about the run support," Kawakami told the Braves' official website. "It's about the way that I'm pitching, and I'm not pitching right, right now. I'm not getting into a good rhythm. That's pathetic right now."
Kawakami is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies.
He may not have the help of Heyward, who leads Atlanta with 26 RBIs, on Sunday. The rookie phenom hasn't started since injuring his groin Wednesday, and though he pinch-hit Thursday and Saturday, it's unclear if he'll be ready for the series finale.
Considering the Braves had been 1-10 when Heyward doesn't get a hit before Saturday, it's easy to see why Chipper Jones was excited with the victory.
"It was a big win, probably the biggest win of the year for us," said Jones, who's hitting .353 against the Phillies.
Jones, who suffered a mild groin strain Saturday but expects to play, might be able to increase those averages against Hamels (2-2, 4.42). The six-time All-Star is 9 for 22 (.409) off the left-hander, hitting two homers and four doubles.
Hamels hasn't won in his last two starts but delivered his best outing of the season Tuesday against St. Louis, striking out eight over eight shutout innings before giving up a run in the ninth. The Phillies rallied to win 2-1 in 10.
"He used all his pitches," Manuel said. "His velocity was good. It feels good to see Cole pitch like that."
Hamels is 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA in his last six home starts against the Braves, and aside from Jones, he'll need to be wary of Brian McCann. Atlanta's catcher has 11 hits in 30 at-bats against Hamels.
- Phillies 5, Braves 3 - FINAL
ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
O Infante ss 5 1 3 0 0 1 0 .288
M Prado 2b 5 1 2 0 0 1 1 .312
M Cabrera rf 4 0 1 1 0 0 3 .192
T Glaus 1b 3 0 2 2 1 1 0 .252
B McCann c 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .241
M Diaz lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .167
B Conra
May 9 4:16 PM - NL
AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY SHANE VICTORINO (7) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 7TH OFF KENSHIN KAWAKAMI.
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3, PHILADELPHIA 5
DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: P POLANCO (.304, 2-FOR-3, HR, RBI)
Braves 3, Phillies 5 Bot 7, 0 OutsMay 9 3:47 PM - NL
AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TROY GLAUS SCORED MARTIN PRADO AND OMAR INFANTE
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, T GLAUS ON FIRST, M CABRERA ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 3
PHILADELPHIA 4 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: B MCCANN (.247, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Braves 3, Phillies 4 Top 5, 0 OutsMay 9 3:06 PM - NL
AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MELKY CABRERA SCORED KENSHIN KAWAKAMI
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CABRERA ON FIRST, M PRADO ON SECOND, O
INFANTE ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 1
PHILADELPHIA 4 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: T GLAUS (.248, 1-FOR-1, BB)
Braves 1, Phillies 4 Top 5, 0 OutsMay 9 3:01 PM - NL
AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JAYSON WERTH (7) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF KENSHIN KAWAKAMI.
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0, PHILADELPHIA 4
DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: R IBANEZ (.250, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)
Braves 0, Phillies 4 Bot 3, 0 OutsMay 9 2:28 PM - NL
AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY PLACIDO POLANCO (5) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF KENSHIN KAWAKAMI.
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0, PHILADELPHIA 3
DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C UTLEY (.306, 1-FOR-1)
Braves 0, Phillies 3 Bot 2, 0 OutsMay 9 2:14 PM - NL
AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY RAUL IBANEZ SCORED CHASE UTLEY
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J WERTH ON FIRST, R HOWARD ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 2 BOTTOM,1ST
DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C RUIZ (.320, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
Braves 0, Phillies 2 Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 9 1:57 PM - NL
AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
HIT BY PITCH BY JAYSON WERTH SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J WERTH ON FIRST, R HOWARD ON SECOND, C
UTLEY ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 1 BOTTOM,1ST
DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: R IBANEZ (.250, 2 HR, 15 RBI)
Braves 0, Phillies 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 9 1:56 PM
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