PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA – Omar Infante came in for injured Chipper Jones and lined a two-out, run-scoring single in the eighth inning to back Derek Lowe’s best outing of the season, leading the Atlanta Braves to their eighth straight win, 2-1 over the slumping Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
The Braves finished off a three-game sweep of the defending NL champions and increased their lead in the East Division to 2½ games as they headed off on an 11-game road trip that could determine if they’re a true contender for their first playoff appearance since 2005.
Lowe (8-4) went eight innings in his longest outing of the season, allowing six hits and the only Philadelphia run. Billy Wagner worked a scoreless ninth for his ninth save. Jose Contreras (2-2) took the loss.