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Phils, Braves play two in Philadelphia

Jun 28, 2014 - 2:12 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Tied for first place in the NL East, the Atlanta Braves continue their four-game series in Philadelphia with a doubleheader on Saturday.

Atlanta's 4-2 win combined with Washington's 7-2 loss at Chicago meant both the Braves and Nationals are even in the division.

Ervin Santana tries to snap a personal three-game losing streak when he takes the ball for the day contest for the Braves. Santana has given up 13 runs -- 12 earned -- during the skid. That covers 18 1/3 innings. The righty hasn't won in his last four appearances. That includes a loss to the Phillies at Turner Field on June 17.

Santana is 1-1 in three starts versus the Phillies, including 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts at Citizens Bank Park.

Roberto Hernandez, who counters for the home team, has just one victory over his last eight starts and 10 appearances overall. That triumph came June 18 at Atlanta despite surrendering eight hits and five runs over six innings. The Phillies posted a 10-5 win.

In three career starts versus the Braves, Hernandez is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA.

Sean O'Sullivan makes his return to the majors in the night game for the Phillies. Signed as a free agent in the offseason, O'Sullivan has posted a 3-6 record with a 4.31 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year. The right-hander went 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA in seven games (three starts) in 2013 for San Diego.

David Hale, who began the season in Atlanta's rotation for four straight turns before moving to the bullpen, moves back into a starting role. The righty last pitched Sunday at Washington and recorded one out. He hasn't started since April 26 against the Reds when he tossed a career-best eight innings in a 4-1 win.

Hale's lone start against the Phillies came Sept. 26 last year when he allowed a run over six frames in a 7-1 victory.

Last night, Freddie Freeman's three-run homer led the Braves to their win. Freeman finished the game with three hits, four RBI and a run scored and Andrelton Simmons scored twice for the Braves, who snapped a string of four straight losses to the Phillies.

"It's the last road series of this long trip and we want to go out and get some momentum going back home," Freeman said.

Starter Julio Teheran (7-5) tossed seven strong innings allowing just two runs -- one earned -- on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts to earn the win.

Ben Revere had three hits and a run scored while Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd each drove in a run for Philadelphia, which has dropped two of its last three games.

"We've had a couple of balls hit hard, but they've been right at people," Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard said. "It's a matter of finding real estate."

Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick (3-8) was tagged with the loss after giving up all four runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts across eight innings.

The Phillies swept a three-game set at Atlanta June 16-18. Philadelphia leads the season series, 4-3.