Phils Fall 5 Games Back

The Phils fell to the Braves and fell five games behind them in the NL East Tuesday.

Philadelphia got just three hits against a strong Atlanta bullpen.

Raul Ibanez hit a two-run homer in the first inning, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead.

The Braves took a 3-2 lead in the seventh with Martin Prado's solo homer and the Phillies answered quickly in the bottom half. Ibanez walked to start the inning. He scored on Ryan Howard's opposite-field triple that just eluded left fielder Matt Diaz's leaping attempt. The ball bounced away from Diaz, allowing the slow-footed Howard to reach third standing.

But Howard stayed right there.

Peter Moylan replaced Jair Jurrjens and struck out Jayson Werth looking at five pitches. Jonny Venters entered and retired pinch-hitter Ben Francisco on a shallow fly and Wilson Valdez on a grounder.

"I don't think you can hit if you don't swing,'' Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said, referring to Werth's at-bat. "You got to score there. You have a man on third with nobody out, you have to score period.''

Diaz hit a tiebreaking double in the 11th inning, Eric Hinske added a two-run homer and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves beat
the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Six Braves relievers combined to pitch five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk.

Cole Hamels allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings, striking out eight. The 2008 World Series MVP is 1-5 in his last eight starts, despite allowing three earned runs or less in seven of them.

"I've had some tough games,'' Hamels said. "I feel comfortable and excited for the second half [of the season.]''

The Phillies will try to win the series Wednesday night with Jamie Moyer going for his 10th victory.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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