Braves escape six-run hole, edge Phillies
ATLANTA -- Pinch hitter Emilio Bonifacio's infield single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning capped the Atlanta Braves' 7-6, come-from-behind win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday at Turner Field.
The Braves trailed 6-0 after two innings but came back to win the game by scoring two runs in the eighth against a Philadelphia bullpen that has allowed 34 runs over the past five games.
Atlanta tied the game in the eighth when Mallex Smith lifted a single to left with the bases loaded off reliever David Hernandez (3-4). The Braves took the lead when Bonifacio lined a shot that went off the glove of Philadelphia shortstop Freddy Galvis, allowing Tyler Flowers to score.
The Braves made the game close by scoring four runs in the sixth inning. Nick Markakis delivered a two-out single to get one home, and Tyler Flowers followed with a three-run homer, his eighth, against reliever Luis Garcia.
Mauricio Cabrera (4-1) got the last out of the eighth inning to earn the win. Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth and struck out one for his 18th save.
The Phillies entered the game having given up 25 unanswered runs over two games. That streak ended in the first inning when they scored four runs on a grand slam by Ryan Howard, his 23rd homer.
Philadelphia added two runs in the second inning. Roman Quinn doubled, stole third and scored when Atlanta catcher Flowers threw the ball into left field. Cameron Rupp drove in the other run with his 25th double.
The Braves got a run in the fourth inning when Freddie Freeman hit a solo homer to make it 6-1. Freeman's 33rd home run extended his hitting streak to 29 games and his streak of reaching base successfully to 45 games.
The game was delayed 1 hour, 53 minutes due to rain, and that may have prevented Philadelphia starter Jared Eickhoff from picking up his 12th win. The right-hander allowed just one run on one hit in four innings, with five strikeouts, but he did not return after the stoppage.
There was also a 31-minute delay at the start due to a late-afternoon storm.
NOTES: Atlanta traded 2B Gordon Beckham to San Francisco for cash. ... The Braves had a moment of silence in memory of Miami Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez, who was killed in a boating accident on Sunday morning. 1B Freddie Freeman bought a Fernandez jersey on Sunday and wore it on the plane back to Atlanta. ... The Braves announced results of their voting for the All-Turner Field team. The winners were: 1B Freddie Freeman, 2B Marcus Giles, SS Rafael Furcal, 3B Chipper Jones, LF Ryan Klesko, CF Andruw Jones, RF Brian Jordan, C Javy Lopez and UTIL Martin Prado. Pitchers were Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Julio Teheran and Craig Kimbrel. ... Philadelphia's game on Saturday against the Mets has been selected to be shown by Fox, and the starting time was moved to 1:05 p.m. ET. ... Pitching matchups for the second game of the three-game series: Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz (8-5, 4.41 ERA) vs. Philadelphia LHP Adam Morgan (2-10, 5.57).