Braves 2, Phillies 1
Tim Hudson pitched 7 1/3 dominant innings and David Ross homered as visiting Atlanta won the rubber game of a weekend series.
The Braves won for the seventh time in nine games, inching closer to locking up home-field advantage for the NL wild-card game Oct. 5. Atlanta maintained its lead for the top NL spot at six games over St. Louis, which defeated Chicago later Sunday.
Ross hit his eighth homer of the season in the second, a one-out blast to dead center off Philadelphia starter Cliff Lee (6-8). Dan Uggla’s sacrifice fly in the third finished the Atlanta scoring. Hudson (16-6) made it stand up, allowing two hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts.
Lee deserved a better fate, striking out 11 and allowing nine hits and two runs (one earned) in eight innings. Philadelphia closed within 2-1 in the sixth on Chase Utley’s sacrifice fly, scoring Jimmy Rollins.
Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 39th save. Martin Prado, Reed Johnson and Freddie Freeman each finished with two hits for Atlanta.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Atlanta CF Michael Bourn did not play with a bruised thumb. Johnson started in center. … Atlanta SS Andrelton Simmons played for the first time since Monday, going 1-for-4. … The Phillies conclude their home schedule with a three-game series against Washington starting Tuesday. Atlanta opens its final homestand Tuesday against Miami.