Phillies 5, Braves 0
PHILADELPHIA -- In a battle of rookies, Aaron Nola outdueled Ryan Weber on Tuesday night to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-0 win over the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies needed a lift from their 22-year-old and got one. Philadelphia's starters entered with a 7.14 ERA over the last 14 games, but Nola stemmed the tide by throwing seven shutout innings with a career-high seven strikeouts.
Behind his performance and a big night from center fielder Odubel Herrera, the Phillies (54-85) snapped a five-game losing streak to come within a game of the Braves (55-84) as the two duke it out for worst record in the major leagues.
Atlanta, which has not won back-to-back games since Aug. 7-8, is in that position due to losing 20 of its last 22 games and 35 of its last 45.
Herrera, also a rookie, went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and is batting .364 since June 28, raising his average from .243 to .302. He clubbed his home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, stretching the Phillies' lead from 2-0 to 5-0.
Nola (6-2), drafted in 2014, lowered his ERA to 3.56 in his first 10 big league starts.
Closer Ken Giles notched a four-out save for No. 12 of the season.
Braves right-hander Weber (0-1) picked up a tough-luck loss in his major league debut. The 25-year-old, a 22nd-round pick of the Braves in 2009, threw six innings of two-run ball, scattering just four hits in 74 pitches.
Weber faced the minimum through the first three innings without allowing a hit.
The Phillies then recorded their first hit and the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Second baseman Cesar Hernandez led off the frame with a ground-rule double followed by a single from center fielder Odubel Herrera. Weber minimized damage by getting right fielder Aaron Altherr to ground into a double play, but Hernandez scored to hand the Phillies a 1-0 lead.
Philadelphia tacked on a run the following inning thanks to a leadoff triple by shortstop Andres Blanco and an ensuing infield single from left fielder Brian Bogusevic.
In the top of the third inning, the Braves put their first two batters aboard but failed to score. Nola left them stranded by striking out the next two -- the first being the pitcher attempting to sacrifice bunt -- and inducing an inning-ending fly out to center field.
Atlanta also stranded a runner on second with one out in the top of the fifth inning when Weber struck out and right fielder Nick Markakis grounded out.
NOTES: Phillies LHP Ken Roberts, RHP Nefi Ogando and RHP David Buchanan were promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to the major league club on Tuesday as September call-ups. Buchanan will start Wednesday's series finale against the Braves as the Phillies begin their six-man rotation in September. ... Braves RHP Ryan Weber, Tuesday's starter, had his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game and made his major league debut. ... Phillies 3B Maikel Franco (non-displaced fracture in left wrist) was evaluated by a hand specialist on Tuesday and underwent tests. Interim manager Pete Mackanin said pregame if Franco passes those tests, he would begin taking swings. Franco went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 12. ... Braves OF Cameron Maybin (eye) saw a doctor Tuesday and will be sidelined "a couple more days," according to manager Fredi Gonzalez pregame. Maybin was hurt Sept. 5 and hasn't played since. ... OF Todd Cunningham was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Gwinnett as a September call-up to give the Braves an extra man with Maybin out. Prior to being called up, Cunningham played 27 games with Atlanta and hit .240 in 75 at-bats.