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Blanton aims for better results in first home start vs. Braves

Jul 27, 2008 - 2:19 PM Atlanta (49-54) at Philadelphia (55-49) 1:35 pm. EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- If Joe Blanton's second start with the Philadelphia Phillies mirrors his first, he may not feel the love in the "City of Brotherly Love."

The hefty righthander hopes for a better showing when he makes his first home start on Sunday as the Phillies aim to take the rubber match from the Atlanta Braves.

Philadelphia, which trails the New York Mets (56-48) by one game in the National League East, acquired Blanton from Oakland on July 17 to shore up a suspect rotation. The 6-3, 256-pound Blanton (5-12, 5.08 ERA) took the place of Adam Eaton, who posted a 3-8 mark with a 5.71 ERA being relegated to bullpen duty.

Blanton was thrown into the fire right away, making his first start against the Mets at Shea Stadium on Tuesday. In that game he was rocked for five runs and eight hits in six innings, but was let off the hook when the Phillies used a six-run ninth to post an 8-6 victory.

That sort of offensive punch had been missing until Saturday, when Greg Dobbs' pinch-hit three-run homer punctuated a seven-run fifth, helping the Phillies to a 10-9 triumph. Prior to that outburst, Philadelphia had scored just six runs during its three-game losing streak.

On the other hand, Saturday's loss was a crushing setback for the Braves. Atlanta scored nine runs in the fourth inning, but Mike Hampton and the bullpen could not hold the lead. The injury-prone Hampton was making his first start since August 19, 2005.

The Braves, who have won five of seven, will try and rebound behind rookie Jorge Campillo (5-4, 2.83 ERA).

Campillo is seeking a third straight win after limiting the Florida Marlins to two hits in seven innings on Monday.

The Phillies have won nine of the 11 meetings with Atlanta this season.