Braves Take 2 Of 3 From Phillies As Uggla Collects 5 Hits

Atlanta came into Philadelphia with high expectations and came out winning two of three from the Phils. Pitching carried the Braves in game one while the offense carried Atlanta in game three. Dan Uggla, mired in a wretched slump for the past few months, had five hits in the series and looked like he is beginning to figure things out at the plate.

Game one saw Ben Sheets limit the Phillies to 1 run on 7 hits in 7.1 innings as Atlanta rolled 6-1. The Phillies only run came on a solo homer from John Mayberry. Sheets walked one, and didn't record a single strikeout. It was the third time in Sheets' career that he didn't strike out a batter, and the first of such games that he managed to win. Uggla, Brian McCann, and Jason Heyward each collected a pair of hits, with Jason's second being his 18th home run of the year.

The second game was roles reversed, as Cole Hamels dominated Atlanta in a complete game shut out, allowing only 5 hits. Mike Minor gave up 3 runs in the first inning, two on a hanging slider to Ryan Howard. Minor would settle down to throw a quality start, giving up only those 3 runs over 7 innings, but Atlanta could not break through against Hamels. Philly won 3-0.

Atlanta took the rubber match behind an offensive outburst. Atlanta staked Tim Hudson to a 6-1 lead early, but Hudson couldn't hold on, and Philly fought back to tie it at 6-6. Atlanta teed off on the Phillies bullpen though, led by a bases clearing double from Dan Uggla. Atlanta took the rubber match 12-6. Uggla had 3 hits and 3 RBI as did Michael Bourn, who also hit his 9th homer of his career.

Atlanta is off today before traveling to Citi Field to take on the Mets.