The Phils come up short as they attempt to come from behind against the Braves, losing in the ninth, 8-6. Phils’ starter, Brett Myers, would get rocked early and often by the Braves, giving up a run in almost every inning he pitched last night. The Braves went to work in the first inning as Yunel Escobar hit Myers’ second pitch out of the park for a home run, his fourth of the year, giving the Braves a quick 1-0 lead. Four pitches later, Chipper Jones would hit his eleventh home run of the year, increasing Atlanta’s lead to 2-0. The Braves would increase their lead in the second inning on a first-pitch home run by Kelly Johnson, hit fifth of the season, making it 3-0. In the fourth, Brian McCann would increase the lead to 5-0, as he hit a two-run RBI double off of Myers, knocking in Mark Kotsay, who has got on base earlier via an error by Ryan Howard as he missed a throw on what should’ve been a double play ball, and Jones, who has doubled earlier. After escaping trouble in the fourth, Myers would get sent to the showers in the fifth, after he gives up a RBI single to McCann with one out, scoring Kotsay, who has earlier got on base with a single, making it a 6-0 Atlanta lead. Myers was able to pitch only four and one-third innings, eventually giving up eight runs, six of which were earned, on nine hits. Ryan Madson would come in to replace Myers. After getting the second out of the inning, Madson would intentionally walk Johnson, before giving up a RBI single to Gregor Blanco, scoring Mark Teixeira, who has gotten on base earlier via a force out, and McCann, making it 8-0 Atlanta, while both runs would be charged to Myers. But that would be it for Atlanta as Clay Condrey and Rudy Seanez would combine to pitch three scoreless innings as they give up no runs on one hit. In the meantime, the Phillies’ bat would finally get to Tom Glavine in the sixth. After Chris Coste gets his second single of the night off of Glavine, and pitch hitter Eric Bruntlett walks, Jimmy Rollins would knock in the Phils’ first run of the game with a double, scoring Coste. Shane Victorino would then get the Phillies’ second run as he grounds out, short to first, scoring Bruntlett. Chase Utley would then follow with his fourteenth home run on the year, scoring Rollins, as he makes the score 8-4 Braves. After walking Pat Burrell with two out, Glavine would be taken out of the game for Jeff Bennett, who would end the Phillies’ threat. In the eighth inning, Howard would cut the lead to 8-5 as he hits his ninth home run of the year off of Braves’ reliever Royce Ring. Then in the ninth, with two outs, the Phils attempt some ninth inning heroics. Coste would start it off by getting on base with a single, his fourth of the night, off of Blaine Boyer. Greg Dobbs then follows with a pinch hit single, getting Coste to second. Rollins would then get a RBI single, knocking in Coste and sending Dobbs to third. After Rollins gets his third steal of the year, putting the tying run in scoring position, Victorino would hit a long fly ball to the right field warning track, where it was caught by Jeff Francoeur, ending the threat, and giving Boyer his second save of the season, as the Braves hang on to win, 8-6.

Brett Myers would take the lost, as he gets hit hard in his four and one-third innings of work. His record is now 2-5 with an ERA of 6.40, as he gives up eight runs, six of which were earned, on nine hits. Ryan Madson would pitch two-thirds of an inning of relief, giving up no earned runs on two hits. Clay Condrey would pitch an inning, giving up no runs on one hit while Rudy Seanez would pitch two innings of relief, giving up no runs on no hits. Tom Glavine would win the game for the Braves, as he goes five and two-third innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits while striking out four as he kept the Phils off balanced until the sixth inning. Glavine receives his first win of the year, as his record improves to 1-1, while his ERA goes to 4.41. Jeff Bennett would pitch one-third of an inning plus one batter, as he gives up no runs on one hit. Will Ohman would go one inning, giving up no runs on no hits. Royce Ring would pitch two-thirds of an inning, giving up one earned run, Howard’s home run, on one hit. Blaine Boyce would go one and one-third inning, giving up an earned run on three hits as he records his second save.

In spite of the lost, the Phils are still in second place, 1.5 games behind the Marlins, as the fish loses their third game in a row to the Reds, and still half a game ahead of the Mets, as they lost again to the Nationals. The Phils are now ahead of the fourth place Braves by a full game.

Edit: The Phils are presently a full game ahead of the Mets as they have just lost their second straight game, and three of four, to the Nationals.

The final game of the three game series starts tonight at 7:05 pm at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils will be sending their ace, Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.36), to the mound for the rubber game of the series. Hamels is coming off a somewhat shaky start against the Giants on May 9, where he went seven innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits, as he gain the victory in the Phils’ 7-4 win. The Braves will counter with Chuck James (2-2, 7.58), who is coming off of a lost against the Pirates on May 10, where he gave up five earned runs on five hits as he pitched six innings in the Braves’ 5-2 lost. In his four starts, he had given up at least four earned runs in three of them. The Phils will be trying to win this game to stay in pace with the Marlins, and stay ahead of both the Mets and the Braves.