Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) – Omar Infante drove in the game-winning run in the eighth as the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 2-1 win at Turner Field.
Infante, who replaced Chipper Jones in the fifth inning after Jones left with inflammation on his right ring finger, went 2-for-2 while Martin Prado added two hits and a run scored for the Braves, who have won eight straight for the first time in almost seven years.
The last time the Braves had an eight-game winning streak was a run from July 4-11, 2003. That team went on to win 101 games that season.
Derek Lowe (8-4) won his third straight start as he was charged with just one run on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts over eight innings of work.
“It was a fun game to be part of,” said Lowe. “The game moved along at a good clip and you look back at the game and the double play that (Chase) Utley hit into was a game-changer.”
Jayson Werth drove in the lone run while Brian Schneider scored that run for the Phillies, who have dropped nine of their last 11 games during which the team has scored just 14 runs.
“Any time you lose games like this it’s tough,” said Schneider. “Our pitching has been great lately, but we haven’t been scoring any runs for them. I know every game counts but at least we have a lot of season left so we’ll be ok.”
Kyle Kendrick went seven innings in the start and was charged with just one run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Jose Contreras (2-2) was tagged with the loss.
With the score tied in the eighth, the Braves grabbed the lead with Contreras on the mound. Nate McLouth led off with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt from pinch-hitter Melky Cabrera. After Prado struck out, Jason Heyward was issued an intentional walk. Infante followed with a bloop single to right just over the head of Utley to bring home McLouth for a 2-1 lead.
Billy Wagner worked around a two-out walk to Ben Francisco in the ninth to pick up his ninth save of the season.
The Braves struck in the first inning as, with men on first and third and no outs, Jones hit into a double play that scored Prado.
Atlanta nearly took a 2-0 lead in the second as Troy Glaus hit a long fly ball to left, but Raul Ibanez leapt at the wall and got his glove on the ball to keep it from going out, limiting Glaus to a double. Eric Hinske then struck out and Yunel Escobar lined out back to the mound with Kendrick turning the double play to escape the inning.
Philly got the run back in the third on an RBI single from Werth that plated Schneider. Wilson Valdez followed with a bunt single to load the bases, but Utley hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
After giving up a leadoff single to Ryan Howard in the fourth, Lowe got Francisco to pop out and Raul Ibanez to hit into a double play. Lowe then retired the next nine batters in order.
Greg Dobbs led off the eighth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Schneider. Pinch-hitter Ross Gload then grounded out to move Dobbs to third and Werth was issued an intentional walk, but Valdez flied out to end the inning.
The Braves are 12-7 in day games this season, including a perfect 9-0 at home…Atlanta now embarks on a season-high 11-game road trip, starting with a four-game set in Los Angeles on Thursday…The Braves are an MLB-best 19-6 at home this season…Despite the loss, the Phils lead the National League in road wins with 15, compared to 14 losses…The Phils fell to 9-10 in days games this season…Philly just finished a road trip with a 2-7 mark for the first time since 2006. The team returns home to face San Diego for a four-game set starting on Friday.