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Phillies erupt for 4 runs in 10th to beat Braves

ATLANTA - Maikel Franco held his helmet as he slowly jogged toward home plate in the 10th inning of a 4-0 win over Atlanta on Sunday. The Phillies offense had been stagnant for the first 27 innings of the weekend series against the Braves at Turner Field. Now it was coming alive.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning at Turner Field. (Dale Zanine/USA Today)
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning at Turner Field. (Dale Zanine/USA Today)Read more

ATLANTA - Maikel Franco held his helmet as he slowly jogged toward home plate in the 10th inning of a 4-0 win over Atlanta on Sunday. The Phillies offense had been stagnant for the first 27 innings of the weekend series against the Braves at Turner Field. Now it was coming alive.

The Phillies scored four times in the 10th. Ryan Howard gave them their first lead of the series on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Carlos Ruiz doubled to drive in Cesar Hernandez and Franco. Freddy Galvis singled home Ruiz. It was the most runs they scored in one inning since June 28.

Cole Hamels had been out of the game for about an hour by the time the win was finally decided.

The lefthander began what could be the final month of his Phillies career by pitching seven scoreless innings. And all he had to show for it was a no-decision.

"It's one of those things where it's unfortunate for us that we weren't able to get it done for him," Howard said. "He was out there and throwing well. Both pitchers threw well. But to be able to get it in extras, you take it however you can."

Another striking performance by Hamels was spoiled by the Phillies' lack of run production. Hamels struck out six and walked none. He threw 109 pitches, 69 of which were strikes. Ken Giles struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth. Luis Garcia escaped the ninth after allowing runners to reach first and third with one out. Jonathan Papelbon finished the game but did not earn a save.

"He handles it very well," interim manager Pete Mackanin said of Hamels. "He's done it before, too. He doesn't come out saying, 'Jesus, get me some runs.' He didn't say that. Never even hints at that, which is very professional."

It was the 30th time in Hamels' career that he pitched seven scoreless innings. And it was the 10th time in that situation that he finished with no decision.

"I'm not hitting," Hamels said when asked about the team's run-support issues. "My batting average is dropping and it's a sad aspect that I don't have any RBIs."

The pitcher's biggest challenge did not appear to be Atlanta's offense. Instead, it was earning some run support. The Phillies seemed almost determined to not score for Hamels. They stranded 10 baserunners, including eight in scoring position.

Cody Asche struck out with the bases loaded in the first. Franco and Howard both left Hernandez stranded on second in third. Domonic Brown grounded out in the fourth to bring up Hamels with two outs and two runners on. The pitcher ended the inning with a pop-up.

Odubel Herrera doubled to lead off the fifth but was promptly picked off in a head-scratching rundown when he tried to steal third. Mackanin said it was a young player's mistake.

Franco led off the eighth with a single and moved to second on a groundout. He looked set to score when Ruiz sliced a line drive to right. But the ball was snared by rightfielder Nick Markakis' diving catch.

Asche ended the inning with a groundout a batter later. The Phillies looked set on finishing Sunday scoreless. They just needed to wait a little longer.