PHILLIES NEWS

Coming off a dramatic sweep of the Brewers, the Phils traveled to Atlanta to begin a 3 game series, in the suddenly very comfy confines of Turner field where they had won 6 in a row coming in. Jamie Moyer got the start and was roughed up for 6 runs on 6 hits in just 5 and 2/3rd's innings of work. Meanwhile, the Phils bat's jumped out early with 4 runs in the first 4 innings. So they hung with the Braves early and would need some late heroics to pull this one out. Now onto the game. In the top of the 3rd, Chase Utley doubled in one run, and Jayson Werth slammed a 2 run homer for a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 3rd, Brian Mcann singled in one run ,and Casey Kotchman followed a a couple batters later with a 2 run single to knot it up at 3. In the top of the 4th, Carlos Ruiz slugged a solo homer for a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the 6th, Jeff Franceour singled and scored on a fielder's choice, and Kelly Johnson slapped a 2 run single to give the Braves their first lead at 7-4. In the top of the 7th, "Mr.September" Ryan Howard used his blazing speed to leg out a triple(okay so he actually lined a ball off the right-field wall that bounced about 20 feet away from any fielders and strolled into 3rd, but it was still impressive) and knock in one run, and then he scored on a single by the "Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino to cut the lead to 7-6. In the top of the 8th, Mr.September struck again, as Howard crushed a 2 out 2 run homer for an 8-7 lead, can you say MVP. From there Ryan Madson blanked the Braves in the bottom of the inning, and Brad Lidge escaped a 2 out bases loaded jam in the 9th to close out the 8-7 win. So with the Mets losing again tonight the Phils move to 84-67 overall, now .5 games up on the Mets in the NL East.