Atlanta, GA – John Mayberry Jr. scored the go-ahead run on a Jonny Venters wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies doubled up the Atlanta Braves, 4-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Turner Field.
Ty Wigginton hit a two-run single and Hunter Pence also knocked in a run for the Phillies, who have won five of their last seven games.
Philadelphia has won eight in a row over its NL East rival.
Brian McCann belted a solo home run for Atlanta, which has dropped three of four.
Mayberry stroked a one-out, pinch-hit double and Jimmy Rollins followed with a single off Venters (2-1). Mayberry then raced home when Placido Polanco went down swinging on a pitch that got past McCann.
"I saw the ball kind of pop up, so I knew it was going to take a great play for McCann to get the ball," Mayberry said.
After Shane Victorino reached on an infield single, Rollins came home on a base hit by Pence.
"I felt good, I just didn't make any pitches when I had to," Venters said.
Chad Qualls replaced Antonio Bastardo (1-1) to begin the bottom of the eighth and gave up a leadoff single to Freddie Freeman, who was quickly erased on a double-play grounder by McCann. Dan Uggla then singled and Matt Diaz walked, but Qualls escaped the jam by striking out Juan Francisco.
Jonathan Papelbon tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his ninth save of the season.
Atlanta starting pitcher Brandon Beachy retired the first 10 batters he faced before Polanco singled with one out in the fourth. Polanco advanced to third on a two-out double by Pence and scored when Wigginton hit a ground ball sharply to left field. Martin Prado had the ball go under his glove, allowing Pence to score as well.
McCann homered to right field off Philadelphia's Cole Hamels with one gone in the home fourth and the Braves tied the game two innings later on a Francisco sacrifice fly.
Game Notes
Hamels allowed six hits, walked two and fanned six in six innings...Beachy scattered five hits and did not walk a batter over seven frames....Atlanta was 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base...The Phillies placed reliever David Herndon on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with right elbow inflammation and selected the contract of fellow right-hander Brian Sanches from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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