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Uggla powers Braves past Phils

May 16, 2011 - 12:19 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla smacked a go-ahead home run off Roy Halladay in the eighth inning, lifting the Braves to a 3-2 victory and series win against the Phillies.

Uggla was a thorn in Halladay's side, going 2-for-3 with a walk while scoring all of Atlanta's runs in the annual Civil Rights Game. Freddie Freeman drove him in twice with a chance infield single and a sacrifice fly.

"Each and every time you do something like that, it just helps you feel more part of the them, and I already do," said Uggla, who was traded to the Braves by the Marlins this past offseason. "These guys have made me feel so welcome already. But at the same time, you want to contribute and do your part."

Halladay (5-3) pitched a complete game and gave up three runs for just the second time this season, but absorbed his second consecutive losing decision.

Jonny Venters (3-0) picked up the win after throwing a scoreless eighth in relief of Tim Hudson. The Atlanta starter went seven innings and limited the Phillies to two runs, which came on a homer by John Mayberry, Jr.

Mayberry hit the blast in the sixth inning, which Placido Polanco began with a walk. Hudson retired the next two batters, but had a 2-0 fastball to Mayberry stay up and over the plate.

The 6-foot-6 outfielder reached down for the pitch and drove it to left field for his second home run of the season, giving Philadelphia a 2-1 edge.

However, Atlanta quickly tied the game thanks to Uggla, who worked a leadoff walk. Halladay threw a series of low or away pitches that were close to the zone. But only one of the five was called a strike, and Uggla didn't chase the others to get on base.

The second baseman then hustled to third when Eric Hinske followed with a single, and scored when Freeman flied out to left.

Uggla had also gone first-to-third on Hinske's broken-bat hit in the fourth inning to set up Atlanta's first run.

That time, Freeman batted a ball that Halladay deflected toward shortstop with his glove. But Jimmy Rollins had already started running to second base, expecting the ball to continue up the middle and wasn't in position to make a play as Uggla crossed the plate.

While Uggla used aggressive baserunning to score the Braves' first two runs, he used pure power to put them in front.

Leading off the eighth, Uggla worked a full count before blasting a fastball over the left field wall. The pitch was similar to the one Mayberry knocked out of the park, and the home run provided the decisive run.

It was the seventh homer of the season for Uggla, who was hitting .196 prior to Sunday's game. But Halladay said he felt he had to challenge Uggla.

"You don't want to walk the leadoff guy," Halladay said. "Obviously he's been struggling, but he's still a good hitter and it's kind of a catch-22. So I went after him and it wasn't a good pitch."

Craig Kimbrel closed the game in the ninth, retiring three consecutive batters after walking Ben Francisco, to earn his 10th save.

Game Notes

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz singled in the third inning to snap and 0-for-26 skid, the longest of his career...Michael Martinez started in center field for Philadelphia in place of Shane Victorino, who sat with right hamstring soreness...Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones did not play with a sore right knee.