Phils Hold On to Beat Braves, 5-4

Cliff Lee, who had thrown six innings of shutout baseball, exited Friday after giving up a three run home run that put the Braves within two runs. They would get one more in the inning but the Phillies held on to beat the Braves 5-4. J.C. Ramirez cleaned up the mess that Lee made in the seventh.

The offense was able to put up five runs on Braves starter Paul Maholm, and Ryan Howard–yes that Ryan Howard–hit the first home run by a lefty off of Maholm this year. He has also been holding lefties to a .188 average prior to tonight’s game.

BIG NIGHT FOR QUINTERO

Humberto Quintero had a great night at the plate, going 2-4 with 3 RBI. He hit a home run that required a replay review in the 2nd inning. The ball bounced back into play like it hit the wall, but it was ruled it a home run.

Replay showed that it actually hit a fan in the first row trying to catch it. After review, it was determined that fans in the first row did not interfere with a ball in play and the home run call was upheld.

Quintero added an RBI double in the sixth that scored Delmon Young, who should not have been sent home by Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg has gotten some criticism this year for getting runners thrown out, and this was another that he should’ve stopped at third. The throw was a little off-line, and catcher Brian McCann dropped the ball, so Sandberg didn’t cost the Phillies a run.

HEATED THIRD INNING

Leading off the top of the third inning, Braves catcher Gerald Laird

struck out looking on a pitch that was clearly high. He immediately went back to home plate umpire Angel Hernandez to argue. Some expletives were said, and as he was walking away (still shouting expletives) Hernandez ejected him.

Laird sprinted and got into Hernandez’s face, screaming at him about fertilizer. He made contact with Hernandez, so he will be facing a fine. Freddie Freeman was also ejected trying to defend Laird.

Hernandez has a terrible, terrible reputation around MLB, so I really can’t blame Laird for getting so angry. Because if that happened to the Phils, we’d all be just as mad. However, it helped the Phillies, so I guess I can’t complain too much.

UP NEXT

The Phils will send Kyle Kendrick to the mound tomorrow, and the Braves will send tonight’s scheduled starter Tim Hudson, who had his start pushed back, to the mound. Any suspension that Gerald Laird may face won’t be in effect by tomorrow. Chase Utley looked to be in pain after fouling a ball off his foot, so he may get a day off. The game starts at 7:15 EST.