Phils fall again

By Greg Wiley
The Phanatic Magazine

Brian McCann drove in two more runs and Kelly Johnson highlighted a six-run fifth inning with a two-run homer, as the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game series sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies with an 8-4 win at Citizens Bank Park.

Scott Thorman also drove in two runs and Edgar Renteria had three hits for the Braves, who are off to their best start since beginning the 1994 campaign with seven consecutive wins.

Jeff Francoeur and Andruw Jones drove in a run apiece and Chipper Jones scored twice for Atlanta, which now heads to Turner Field for their home opener on Friday against the Mets. New York also won their first three games, setting up an interesting early season series between the two division rivals.

Chuck James (1-0) started for the Braves and earned the victory. The left- hander allowed just one run on six hits, striking out five and walking one in five innings of work.

McCann had a stellar opening series, going 6-for-12 with two homers, a league- leading tying six RBI and three runs scored. His two-run ninth-inning homer on Wednesday forced extra innings, helping the Braves to an eventual 3-2 win. Renteria also had a productive set, ending 7-for-15 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored. Renteria also has a 10-game hitting streak dating back to last season.

Pat Burrell ended 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Phillies, who blew late-inning leads in the first two games of this set before falling behind early and never recovering in the finale.

Chase Utley added three hits for Philadelphia, which also got off to a slow start last year by losing its first four games. The Phillies will try to get their first win of the season on Friday when they travel to Florida to face the Marlins in the opener of a three-game set.

Adam Eaton (0-1) made his regular-season debut for the Phillies and suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs -- seven earned -- on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander, who was signed in the off-season, also walked four and struck out three.

The Braves got going in the first inning and it was McCann who inflicted the damage, but it was a throwing error by Ryan Howard at first that allowed it. With one out and a runner on first, Chipper Jones hit a would-be inning-ending double-play grounder to Howard. His throw to shortstop Jimmy Rollins covering second, however, sailed into left field, keeping the inning alive.
Eaton then walked Andruw Jones and McCann followed with a single to plate two runs for the early lead.

The Phils got a run back in the fourth when Burrell doubled home Utley, who led off the frame with a two-bagger of his own.

Atlanta, though, put the game out of reach in the next inning, scoring six times for a seven-run lead. Johnson began the inning's scoring with a one-out two-run homer. Chipper Jones then started a two-out rally with a base hit and scored on Andruw Jones' double. After McCann was intentionally walked, Francoeur singled home Andruw Jones to force Eaton from the game in favor of Joe Bisenius. Thorman capped the inning's scoring when he greeted Bisenius with a two-run double.

Philadelphia got a run back in the sixth when Burrell scored on a Greg Dobbs ground out, but Howard and Burrell ended up striking out with runners on first and second to end the seventh. Rollins stranded a pair of runners in the eighth by making the final out.

Wes Helms and Shane Victorino both worked bases-loaded walks in the ninth to make it a four-run game, but Rafael Soriano came on with two outs and got pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz to fly out to shallow left field to end the game.

Soriano got his first save of the season with his one-pitch appearance.