The Phillies and Braves traded punches Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, but Freddy Galvis delivered the final blow in the Phillies’ 4-3 win.
His shot into the right-field seats gave the Phils their first lead of the game after playing catch-up for the first seven innings. Atlanta took leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2, but Galvis got the last word as the Phillies swept the Braves to go 5-1 on their six-game homestand.
Jeremy Hellickson and Tyrell Jenkins traded and evaded jams, as each starter put runners in scoring position in three innings apiece, but both also exited the game with just one earned run each — and without factoring into the decision. Jenkins, filling in for Julio Teheran, was lifted after only 64 pitches and 4 2/3 innings in his first MLB start. He’d yet to allow a run when manager Brian Snitker pulled him, but Ian Krol immediately allowed an Odubel Herrera RBI double to score his inherited runner and tie the game at 1.
Hellickson continued to increase his trade value in what was likely his second-to-last home start before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Despite walking a pair in the third and surrendering four hits, Hellickson made it through six innings, allowing only one earned run.
Adonis Garcia was having his best game in a month before he stepped into the batter’s box in the eighth inning. He had singled and doubled in his last two at-bats. Then, he ripped a Hector Neris splitter down the left-field line to score Jeff Francoeur and give the Braves a momentary 3-2 lead. It was Garcia’s ninth career three-hit game and the first that included at least two extra-base hits.
Maikel Franco became the first Phillie to homer in four consecutive games since Ryan Howard did so in September 2012, taking Braves reliever Chris Withrow deep in the sixth inning. Franco has a chance to tie the record for most consecutive games with a home run on Thursday. Four different Phillies have hit homers in five straight games, and Chase Utley did so twice during the 2008 season.
The Braves will travel to Chicago for the final series before the All-Star break against the White Sox. The Braves begin their visit to the Windy City with a single make up game with the Cubs on Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM and you can hear the game here on Thunder Radio on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.
