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News » Phillies-Braves Preview 2008-07-02


Phillies-Braves Preview 2008-07-02


Phillies-Braves Preview 2008-07-02
The Atlanta Braves are one of the strongest teams in baseball at home - except when they host Philadelphia.

The Phillies will be trying to remain undefeated at Turner Field this season when they continue their three-game series with the Braves on Wednesday.

The Braves (40-44) are 28-15 at home this season, the third-best record in the National League. However, they have dropped seven of their last 10 at Turner Field, beginning with a three-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies (45-39) June 6-8.

Philadelphia outscored the Braves 16-8 in that series, the first between the teams in Atlanta this season. The Phillies picked up where they left off on Tuesday, winning the series opener 8-3.

Philadelphia, 6-1 against Atlanta overall this season, owns the second-best road record in the NL at 23-21. Shane Victorino homered and drove in four runs Tuesday for the Phillies, who had averaged only 2.9 runs while dropping nine of their previous 11 games, all against AL teams.

Philadelphia is one of the highest-scoring teams in the majors with 5.1 runs per game.

"It's nice to come back to the division and win a game in our division," Victorino said. "It's definitely a big win, especially the first game back playing a division team."

Pat Burrell also homered, joining Mike Schmidt as the only Phillies with 20 or more homers in eight straight seasons. Along with Chase Utley (23) and Ryan Howard (20), Philadelphia has three players with at least 20 homers before the All-Star break for the first time in team history.

The Braves lost despite having Chipper Jones back in the lineup after missing eight straight starts with a strained right quadriceps. Jones, who leads the majors with .394, had been prepared for a trip to the disabled list, but felt good stretching and then running before the game.

"I said when I could get to 75, 80 percent that I wanted to get back in there, because I wouldn't embarrass myself out there on the basepath," Jones said before the game. "I can do all the other stuff, no problem. I got there today."

Jones was 1-for-3 with a double and two walks in his return. Center fielder Mark Kotsay also returned after missing 33 games with a lower back strain and went 0-for-4.

Shortstop Yunel Escobar, who has missed five games with a jammed left shoulder, could return to the lineup Wednesday as the Braves hand the ball to rookie starter Jorge Campillo (3-2, 2.54 ERA).

Campillo gave up two runs in seven innings of last Wednesday's 4-2 win over Milwaukee. He is making his ninth start since being promoted from the bullpen to help out an injury-plagued rotation.

"He's been excellent every time out," manager Bobby Cox said. "He's legit."

Campillo owns a 3.12 ERA in three appearances against the Phillies this season. His lone start against Philadelphia came on June 8, when the right-hander allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings without receiving a decision in a 6-3 home loss.

Adam Eaton (2-6, 4.86), who starts for Philadelphia, allowed three runs in six innings without getting a decision in that game. He is 3-3 with a 5.94 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves.

Eaton dropped his third straight start on Thursday, allowing three runs in seven innings of a 5-0 loss in Oakland. The right-hander dropped to 0-4 with a 4.92 ERA in nine road starts.

"It would be nice to actually not give up a couple of runs in the first inning," he said. "It's happened in four starts."


Author:Fox Sports
Author's Website:http://www.foxsports.com
Added: July 2, 2008

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