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Braves Jump On Phillies Early, Hang On To Win

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

(Sports Network) - Tom Glavine picked up his first win of the season in his seventh start and the Atlanta Braves hit three home runs in an 8-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Glavine (1-1) lasted only 5 2/3 innings after hitting a rough patch in the sixth, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks. He retired 15 of 16 batters through the first five innings and struck out four.

Chipper Jones was 2-for-4, scored two runs, walked and hit his 11th home run of the season while raising his major league-leading batting average to .418. Brian McCann was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, adding a walk and a run scored. Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson hit the other home runs for the Braves, who have won just two of their last six.

Phillies starter Brett Myers (2-4) never got on track allowing eight runs - six earned - in 4 1/3 innings, continuing a five-start winless skid. Myers allowed seven runs - six earned - on the way to losing his last start to Arizona, 8-3, and has now allowed 15 runs - 12 earned - in his last 9 1/3 innings.

Chris Coste was 4-for-4 with four singles and scored two runs, and Chase Utley hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, who have now lost four of their last six. Ryan Howard added a solo shot in the setback.

The Phillies made things interesting in the ninth after Coste and pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs hit back-to-back singles with two outs and Jimmy Rollins ripped an RBI single to right. Dobbs moved to third and Rollins stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Shane Victorino flied out deep to right to end the game.

Blaine Boyer pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run in recording the first save of his career.

Atlanta staked Glavine to an early lead, starting the game with a home run from Escobar, while Jones launched an opposite field shot to left two batters later.

Atlanta went yard again in the second, this time from Johnson, making it 3-0.

Continuing its hit parade, Atlanta tacked on two more in the third. Mark Kotsay grounded into a possible double play with no one out, but Howard dropped the relay throw at first for an error. Jones followed with a ground- rule double before Mark Teixeira struck out for what should have been the final out. McCann then smoked a double to right plating two.

McCann added a one-out RBI single in the fifth to make it 6-0, chasing Myers from the game after only 4 1/3 innings. Ryan Madson came on getting Jeff Francoeur to ground out before intentionally walking Johnson to load the bases with two out. Gregor Blanco then ripped a single up the middle to plate two more and make it 8-0.

Philadelphia finally got things going batting around in the sixth with three hits and three walks. Rollins started the scoring with an RBI double. Victorino added an RBI groundout and a two-run homer to right by Utley capped the frame's scoring, cutting the lead in half and chasing Glavine from the game.

Howard added a solo shot in the eighth off Braves' reliever Royce Ring to make it 8-5.

Game Notes

Glavine is 29-17 lifetime against the Phillies...Atlanta held the best batting average and team earned run average in the National League entering Wednesday's contest.

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