B.J. Upton powers Braves past Phillies 3-2

Sunday, June 29, 2014

photo Philadelphia Phillies' Marlon Byrd is greeted by Cody Asche after his solo home run during their game with the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, June 29, 2014, in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA - B.J. Upton tripled and drove in two runs Sunday to lead the streaking Atlanta Braves to a 3-2 victory over the Phillies and their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia in 50 years.

Gerald Laird had two hits with a double and RBI for the Braves, who won for the sixth time in seven games while ending their 11-game road trip 8-3. Atlanta avenged a three-game sweep by Philadelphia June 16-18 at Turner Field.

It was the Braves' first four-game sweep in Philadelphia since Sept. 24-27, 1964, when the franchise was in Milwaukee and their four wins at Connie Mack Stadium contributed to the Phillies' infamous season-ending collapse that year.

Marlon Byrd hit a pair of solo home runs for the slumping Phillies, who have lost eight of 10 to drop to 10 games under .500.

Chase Utley singled in the seventh inning for his 1,500th career hit. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman greeted Utley with applause and a pat on the back, and the crowd of 33,215 gave the Phillies' second baseman a standing ovation.

There wasn't much else to cheer for the home fans.

Philadelphia dropped to 18-27 at Citizens Bank Park and fell to 7-35 when scoring three runs or less as the offense continued to struggle. The Phillies were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, finishing the series 3 for 32.

Aaron Harang (7-6) got the victory despite allowing 11 hits in seven innings. He gave up two runs, struck out four and walked two.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth, but had to work out of a jam for his 24th save in 28 opportunities. Kimbrel got the first two batters out before consecutive singles by Ben Revere and Jimmy Rollins put runners on first and third for Utley. But Utley flew out to right to end the game.

David Buchanan (4-4), making his eighth start in place of injured left-hander Cliff Lee, allowed three runs on five hits and five walks in five innings to snap his three-game winning streak.

The Braves went ahead 2-0 in the second on Upton's two-run triple off the wall in center. Harang scored on the play after singling to center with one out. The pitcher had been 1 for 25 on the season before the hit.

After the first of Byrd's two solo homers brought Philadelphia within 2-1 in the bottom of the frame, Laird's RBI double plated Tommy La Stella to push Atlanta's advantage back to two runs.

It was the fourth extra-base hit in the last three games for La Stella, who had two doubles and a triple in Saturday's doubleheader.

In the bottom of the frame, Byrd homered into the Philadelphia bullpen to make it a one-run game again.

The Phillies threatened in the sixth when they put runners on first and second with nobody out. But Koyie Hill's sacrifice bunt attempt resulted in the lead runner being forced out at third, and pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. grounded into an inning-ending double play.

And Philadelphia had runners on first and third with one out in the seventh when Ryan Howard grounded into another inning-ending double play.