(Best E Casino) - The
Philadelphia Phillies will try to keep the runs coming when they wrap up a three-game series this afternoon versus the NL East-rival
Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia ended a three-game losing streak by recording a 10-9 victory over the Braves on Saturday in the second installment of this series. Greg Dobbs' three-run homer capped a seven-run fifth inning for the Phillies, who won despite giving up nine runs in the fourth inning.
Chris Coste went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Ryan Howard drove in a pair of runs in the win. Philadelphia, which is just 2-5 over its last seven contests, is tied with Florida at one game behind the New York Mets for the top spot in the NL East standings. Atlanta is 6 1/2 games off the pace.
Starter Cole Hamels surrendered nine runs -- four earned -- on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in just 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Six Philadelphia relievers then combined to throw 5 1/3 scoreless frames with Adam Eaton getting the win for pitching a scoreless fifth inning.
Joe Blanton will make his second start for the Phillies today since coming over from Oakland in a trade for minor league prospects. Blanton took the hill for the Phils on July 22 against the Mets at Shea Stadium, but did not factor in the outcome of an 8-6 victory.
Blanton was roughed up for five runs on eight hits, including two home runs, in six innings of work. The right-hander will try to rebound Sunday against an Atlanta club he has never faced before.
Mark Teixeira went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and two runs scored on Saturday, while Omar Infante drove in a pair of runs for the Braves, who had won three of four coming in. Blaine Boyer was tagged with the loss after he allowed three runs on three hits in the fifth inning.
Braves oft-inured starter Mike Hampton, making his first appearance since August 19, 2005, gave up six runs on eight hits with a pair of walks in four- plus innings.
Toeing the rubber for Atlanta this afternoon will be Jorge Campillo, who is 5-4 with a 2.83 earned run average this season. Campillo has won two straight starts and hurled seven scoreless frames the last time out on July 21 against the Marlins in South Beach.
Campillo, a right-hander, is 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA in four career games, two of which have been starts, against the Phillies.
Philadelphia owns the Braves this season, having won nine of the 11 matchups so far. The Phillies won two of three games at Citizens Bank Park from May 13-15.