Braves get past Phils
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brian McCann hit a solo home run and drove in two as the Atlanta Braves took a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the second of a three-game set.
Michael Bourn, who was named to the All-Star game on Saturday, went 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Martin Prado also drove in two runs for the Braves, who have won three straight.
"(Citizens Bank Park) is a hitters' haven," said McCann. "You can do so many things here. It's a great yard to hit in. I enjoy coming up here."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tommy Hanson (10-5) got back in the win column after dropping his last start as he pitched seven-plus innings and gave up three runs on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
"It's nice going into the (All-Star) break with 10 wins," said Hanson. "Hopefully, I can finish stronger than last year and keep moving forward."
Joe Blanton (7-8) was touched for six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits with a walk and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings for the Phillies, who have dropped three straight and nine of their last 10.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"They had a good approach tonight," said Blanton. "They didn't chase anything. They were super aggressive on balls in the zone. They made me battle really hard tonight and I felt I had pretty good stuff."
Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard was out of the lineup after making his season debut on Friday. He had been out since suffering a torn Achilles tendon while making the final out in Philadelphia's series-ending Game 5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 7.
The Braves got on the board in the second when McCann, who hit a grand slam in Friday's 5-0 win, smacked a 2-1 pitch deep into the stands of right field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Phillies, though, responded with a three-run bottom of the inning. Carlos Ruiz led off with a double off the top of the wall in left and Hunter Pence followed with a single. Placido Polanco then hit a grounder to third that saw Ruiz tagged out at the plate, but Juan Pierre followed with a double to score Pence. After John Mayberry was issued an intentional walk, Blanton worked the count full before dropping a single over the head of Dan Uggla and into right field to score a run. Jimmy Rollins then hit into a fielder's choice to make it a 3-1 game, but was caught stealing to end the inning.
Atlanta chipped away at the deficit in the third as Bourn hit a one-out single and Prado followed with a double to make it a 3-2 game.
The Braves then went ahead for good in the fourth. Chipper Jones, Freddie Freeman and McCann all singled to start the inning, with McCann's hit tying the game. Two batters later, Andrelton Simmons' sac fly made it a 4-3 game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In the seventh, the Braves tacked on two more runs as Prado's single plated Simmons and Bourn came home on a strikeout. On the play, Jason Heyward struck out swinging, but Ruiz was unable to hang on to the ball. When he threw to first, Bourn came home to make it a 6-3 game.
Meanwhile, Hanson dominated the Phillies after the second inning as he retired them in order from the third through the sixth inning. Pence led off the seventh with a single, but Polanco hit into a double play and Pierre grounded out.
Craig Kimbrel set the Phils down in order in the ninth for his 24th save of the season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Bourn takes the place of Washington outfielder Ian Desmond, who is sitting out the All-Star game due to a sore left oblique...Jones has a 13-game hitting streak...Atlanta has won three of the five games against the Phillies this season...Jair Jurrjens pitches for the Braves on Sunday while Vance Worley will take the mound for the Phillies...The game was delayed at the start for about one hour due to rain.