Phillies complete four-game sweep of Braves

By Nick Mandarano, SportsTalkPhilly staff writer

Final: Philadelphia 7, Atlanta 5 ❖

PHILADELPHIA — Nick Pivetta pitched 6.0 strong innings of baseball and was backed by some early offense to help him reach his fourth victory of the season. The Phillies put up a four-spot in the third inning to grab an early lead, which they never lost. After Pivetta's exit, the Braves threatened, scoring three runs in 0.1 innings against reliever Jesen Therrien, but it wasn't enough.

Five Phillies combined for nine hits in the ballgame. Hyun Soo Kim, who debuted for the Phillies today after arriving as a part of the Jeremy Hellickson deal, started in left field and walked in each of his first three plate appearances before striking out in his final at-bat.

The win concludes a four-game sweep over the Braves and marks the fifth straight victory for the Phillies, who will open a three-game series in Anaheim against the Angels tomorrow night. It's the first time the Phillies have swept the Braves in a four-game series at home since 1949 and the first time against any team since they were in Milwaukee in 2014.

WP: Nick Pivetta (4-6, 5.42 ERA) ❖ LP: Mike Foltyniewicz (9-6, 4.08 ERA) ❖ SV: Hector Neris (10)

Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
ATL	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	1	0	5	9	1
PHI	0	0	4	1	0	1	1	0	X	7	9	0

The Phillies scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, which began with a leadoff triple by Cesar Hernandez. Three batters later, Tommy Joseph singled on a line drive to right field scoring Hernandez. Odubel Herrera followed the RBI single with a three-run home run scoring Aaron Altherr and Joseph.

In the fourth, the Phillies were able to tack on another run. Hernandez led off with a walk but was replaced by Freddy Galvis after a fielder's choice. On a full count with two outs, Joseph came to the plate again and singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Galvis.

The Braves responded with a run of their own in the top of the fifth inning. Danny Santana tripled with one out and scored on the following at-bat when Johan Camargo grounded out to second base.

Hernandez led off the sixth inning with a bunt single before stealing second base without a throw for his tenth of the season. A throwing error by pitcher Ian Krol on a pickoff attempt to second allowed Hernandez to advance to third. Then, Altherr hit a dribbler to Freddie Freeman, whose only play was to first, allowing Hernandez to score and stretch the Phillies' lead to 6-1.

Jesen Therrien entered to pitch for the Phillies at the start of the seventh inning. He walked the lead-off batter Nick Markakis and then allowed a two-run home run to Kurt Suzuki to cut the deficit to just three runs. Lane Adams later singled home Santana to make the score 6-4.

In the following half inning, Maikel Franco hit a deep home run to left field with one out and no one on to extend the lead back to three runs.

Freeman led off the top of the eighth inning with a solo home run to make it four straight half innings with a run scored in the game.

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Starting Pitchers