PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils finished off their series with the Braves this afternoon and evening for that matter. The newly acquired Joe Blanton got his first start in front of the home crowd, but it was spoiled by a long rain delay that forced him out of the game after allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in just 2 innings. Meanwhile, following the rain delay , with both starters out of the game early, the two teams traded big innings again, just like yesterday and again it would come down to a battle of the bullpens. Now onto the game. In the top of the first, a single by Brian Mcann and a double by Mark Kotsay put the Braves up 2-0. Then the rains came. In the top of 4th following the rain delay, Kelly Johnson slammed a 2 run homer and Omar Infante slugged a solo homer for a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the 4th. A 2 run homer by Chris Coste and a 3 run shot by the "Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino brought the Phils all the way back and knotted it up at 5. In the bottom of the 5th, Pat "the Bat" Burrell crushed a solo homer for a 6-5 Phil's lead. In the bottom of the 6th, Victorino singled in one run, Ryan Howard slapped a 2 run single and finally Jayson slapped a 2 run shot for an 11-5 lead. In the bottom of the 7th Jimmy Rollins socked a solo shot for a 12-5 lead. However, just when it seemed over, the Braves mounted a rally in the top of the 8th, as Omar Infante doubled in one run, Ryan Madson walked in another run, and Martin Prado slapped a bases clearing double for 3 more runs, and suddenly the Phil's lead had been cut to 12-10. Finally in the top of the 9th, Brad Lidge came in and retired the Braves relatively uneventfully to close out the 12-10 win. So the Phils move to 56-49 overall and remain 2nd in the NL East 1 game behind the Mets, who travel to Florida tomorrow, while the Phils get the day off.