Braves drop fifth straight in 9-3 loss to Phillies
PHILADELPHIA -- No ace, no closer, no problem.
Domonic Brown hit a two-run homer and Ryan Howard drove in four runs, helping David Buchanan and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3 Friday night.
The resurgent and rebuilding Phillies won for the 11th time in 13 games since the All-Star break on a day they finalized a trade that sent 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels to Texas. Philadelphia also dealt Ben Revere, its leading hitter, to Toronto before the non-waiver trade deadline. Earlier in the week, the Phillies traded All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon to Washington.
"It's been great, a total team effort on both sides of the ball," Howard said.
Buchanan (2-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in 7 1-3 innings after being called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Hamels in the rotation.
Braves starter Williams Perez (4-1) gave up nine runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings. Freddie Freeman hit his 100th career homer for Atlanta, which has lost five in a row and eight of nine.
"Right now we're not scoring runs," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "When you're down four runs in the first inning, it makes it tough, but our guys kept busting it."
Despite their recent turnaround, the Phillies (40-64) still have the worst record in the majors.
"We want them to play aggressively, play loose and play well," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "You are constantly auditioning."
Howard hit a bases-clearing double in the first inning to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead. He scored on Freddy Galvis' sacrifice fly.
Brown connected off Perez in a five-run fifth for his second homer of the season. Brown has gone deep in two straight games for the first time since June 2-3, 2013, when he was in the middle of a stretch of 11 homers in 15 games.
"We've been talking to him about getting the (bat) head out," Mackanin said. "He seems to have been a defensive hitter so we talked to him about getting out in front of the ball."
Buchanan and Cesar Hernandez had RBI singles and Howard walked to force in the ninth run.
Freeman hit a two-run shot the opposite way in the eighth.
"It was nice to hit a ball hard to left field," Freeman said.
REMEMBERING THE PAST
While Hamels departed Philadelphia, former teammate Pat Burrell was inducted into the team's Wall of Fame. Burrell helped the Phillies win the franchise's second World Series title in '08. Only Howard, Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz remain from that team.
DEBUTS
Left-hander Mark Marksberry made his major league debut for the Braves and threw 1 2-3 scoreless innings. Right-hander Dalier Hinojosa pitched a perfect ninth in his first appearance with the Phillies.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: Utley took batting practice and could begin a rehab assignment soon. The six-time All-Star second baseman has been on the disabled list with an ankle injury since late June.
UP NEXT
RHP Matt Wisler (5-1, 3.43 ERA) takes the mound for Atlanta in the third of the four-game series on Saturday night. RHP Aaron Nola (1-1, 3.29 ERA) makes his third career start for the Phillies.
