Phillies 3, Braves 2
Darin Ruf’s homer leading off the eighth inning snapped a 2-2 tie as host Philadelphia swept a series for the first time in three months.
Ruf hit a 3-2 pitch from David Carpenter (3-1) into the right-field seats, lifting the Phillies to their first sweep since taking three in a row from Miami on June 3-5. Cole Hamels (7-13) fired eight outstanding innings, allowing two runs on two hits with nine strikeouts, and B.J. Rosenberg pitched the ninth for his first major-league save.
Evan Gattis provided all of the Braves’ offense, smashing two solo homers for the only two Atlanta hits. The Braves saw their National League East lead over Washington drop to 12 games, losing their fourth in a row.
The Phillies took a 2-0 lead in the first on Chase Utley’s double to center and Ruf’s single to center off Atlanta starter Paul Maholm. Gattis responded in the second with a monster homer to center on a 1-0 pitch, an estimated 480-foot shot that is the longest in the majors this season.
Gattis tied the game in the seventh, clubbing his 18th homer of the season to left on a two-out, first-strike pitch from Hamels. Maholm gave up two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in six innings.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Phillies improved to 32-28 against NL East competition, their best winning percentage (.533) against any division. … Hamels has allowed two earned runs or less in 11 of his past 13 starts. … Atlanta travels to Miami to open a four-game series, while the Phillies host a three-game set with San Diego next.