ATLANTA – If this was Jeremy Hellickson’s swan song with the Phillies he went out a winner.
Hellickson pitched into the sixth inning and gave up just three runs in the Phils’ 9-5 win over the sloppy Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.
Hellickson is 8-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 22 starts with the Phillies. He could be on the move to a contender before Monday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline. A number of clubs in need of starting pitching scouted Hellickson’s start.
Braves pitching walked eight batters.
Starting pitching report
Hellickson had the type of start he often does. He went 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs, exiting with a 5-3 lead. He allowed nine hits, walked one and struck out two.
Hellickson finished the month of July with a 2.34 ERA in six starts and gave up just four runs in his last three starts.
Will he make another start for the Phillies? We’ll know in a couple of days.
Atlanta right-hander Julio Teheran gave up three runs over five innings.
Bullpen report
Hellickson departed with a run in and two men on base with two outs in the sixth. Edubray Ramos came in and registered a strikeout to end the inning. He stayed on for the seventh and struck out two more.
Jeanmar Gomez closed out a four-run lead. His appearance in a non-save situation may have been a showcase for teams interested in trading for him. The Giants and Indians have been watching Gomez.
The Phillies scored twice off lefty Eric O’Flaherty to take a 5-2 lead in the sixth.
At the plate
Hellickson helped his cause with a two-run double in the fifth. It was the first double of his career.
The Phillies built a 5-2 lead when Freddy Galvis singled home two runs in the sixth.
Ryan Howard doubled in the second and scored on a hit by Cameron Rupp for the Phillies’ first run. Rupp had three hits and scored two runs.
The Phillies sent nine men to the plate and scored four runs in the eighth without getting a hit. They benefited from four walks in the inning.
Nick Markakis, Adonis Garcia and Anthony Recker (single and double) all had RBI hits for the Braves.
Trade update
The Phillies’ asking price for Vince Velasquez is … (see story)
Up next
Jerad Eickhoff (6-12, 3.83) pitches Sunday afternoon for the Phillies. The Braves had not named a starter as Saturday night’s game was ending.
