Simmons, Braves down Phillies
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Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Andrelton Simmons highlighted a three- run seventh inning with a solo home run and the Atlanta Braves evened this three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies with a 5-2 decision on Saturday.
Phillies starter David Buchanan (0-4) looked to match Aaron Harang's success from Friday, and he was well on his way after holding Atlanta without a hit through four innings.
Jonny Gomes broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning and Simmons broke up Buchanan's shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the top of the seventh to pull the Braves within 2-1. After retiring the next two batters he faced, Buchanan issued consecutive walks to Gomes and Kelly Johnson and manager Ryne Sandberg pulled him for lefty Jake Diekman.
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Diekman, who entered the game with a 9.00 ERA, couldn't hold the lead. Chris Johnson smacked a pinch-hit RBI single to tie the game, and Eric Young Jr. plated Kelly Johnson with a double to the wall.
"I think he's missing over the plate and I think that's a control thing," Sandberg said of Diekman.
A.J. Pierzynski and Kelly Johnson padded the lead with RBI singles in the eighth inning, and Jason Grilli tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save.
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"I liked the way we battled," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Our guys didn't mail it in."
Atlanta snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 9-3 in its last 12 games in Philadelphia.
Atlanta starter Shelby Miller (3-0) went six strong innings, allowing just two runs on three hits.
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Ryan Howard's second homer of the season -- a two-run shot to center in the fourth inning -- was all Philly could muster off the former Cardinal.
Game Notes
The Phillies fell to 1-8 in games in which Diekman has pitched this season ... Philadelphia has only scored five runs in its last four games (1-3) ... Atlanta's Trevor Cahill will be opposed by Jerome Williams in Sunday's rubber match.