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Phillies continue road trip vs. rival Braves

May 13, 2011 - 2:50 PM (Sports Network) - With a few players on the mend, including All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, the Philadelphia Phillies can only get stronger.

Utley is not ready to return to the big league club yet, as the Phillies continue an eight-game road trip tonight with the first of three straight games against the NL East-rival Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Utley is recovering from a knee injury that has sidelined him since Spring Training and cracked a home run in his second Florida State League outing last night.

Starting pitcher Roy Oswalt and catcher Carlos Ruiz were also in action for the Clearwater Threshers as part of Minor League rehab assignments. Ruiz could be activated from the disabled list as early as today, while it's unknown when Oswalt will return to the Phillies, who have alternated wins and losses over their previous seven games.

In Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium in the rubber match of a three-game series, the Phillies rallied in the top of the ninth inning on Jimmy Rollins' two-run single. Shane Victorino homered and Pete Orr ended with two hits and an RBI in the win. Cliff Lee got the start and did not record a decision, allowing three runs in six innings. Former starter turned reliever Kyle Kendrick tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the win and Ryan Madson fanned two in the ninth to record his fifth save.

"I thought we stuck with it and grinded out a win," Orr said postgame. "It really didn't look like we were going to win until the end there. It was a fun game today."

Cole Hamels looks to have a little fun when he takes the mound for the Phillies tonight. Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, had a three-start winning streak stopped and was 4-0 in five outings before losing to Atlanta in Sunday's 5-2 setback at Citizens Bank Park. Hamels was reached for three runs and five hits in seven innings.

The lanky lefty, who is 4-2 in seven outings with a 2.83 ERA, will make his 22nd career start against the Braves. Hamels sports a 10-6 mark in the first 21 meetings to go along with a 3.72 earned run average.

Atlanta dropped two of three matchups to Washington to kick off an eight-game residency, but was able to salvage the series finale with Thursday's 6-5 win in 10 innings. Brian McCann was the hero with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th, while Martin Prado hit a grand slam and Chipper Jones added a solo blast -- the 440th of his career.

"I got the pitch right down the middle and hit it solid," Prado said.

The Braves bats and relievers also bailed out starting pitcher Derek Lowe. Lowe was reached for five runs in six innings in the no-decision and closer Craig Kimbrel picked up the win by striking out the side in the top of the 10th inning.

Brandon Beachy gets the nod for Atlanta tonight and he's only 1-1 with a 2.98 ERA in seven starts this season. He has registered three straight no-decisions since his only major league win on April 19 at Los Angeles. In his last outing on May 5 versus Milwaukee, Beachy allowed just one unearned run in six innings of a 2-1 victory.

Beachy, a right-hander, lost to the Phillies on April 9, when he was tagged for four runs in six innings of a 10-2 beating at Turner Field. He is 0-3 with a 3.94 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia.

In other Braves news, pitching coach Roger McDowell is expected to return to the dugout after serving a two-week suspension for his involvement with heckling fans before an April 23 contest in San Francisco. He was required to undergo sensitivity training for his actions.

The 2011 series between the Phillies and Braves is tied at three games apiece, but Philadelphia is 8-4 in the previous 12 matchups between the NL East foes.