Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Jimmy Rollins' third career grand slam punctuated a five-run sixth inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies deal the Atlanta Braves a potentially critical defeat, 11-5, to begin the final series of the regular season at Turner Field.
Rollins, who has been mired with injuries all season, hit just his eighth home run of 2010 for the Phillies, who have locked up the NL East and are in search of the majors' best record for the first time in franchise history. With the victory, Philadelphia moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees, who were rained out on Friday in Boston.
"It's still a division rival. No matter how you look at the game, we go out there to win every single ball game," Rollins said. "If they make it to the playoffs, it's going to be because they make it, not because we lay down."
Kyle Kendrick (11-10) earned the win in his final start of the season, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in five innings.
Derrek Lee drove in all five Atlanta runs, but the Braves missed out on a chance to clinch a share of the NL wild card. Entering the day two games ahead of the Padres, Atlanta's magic number to clinch a postseason berth remains at two after Friday's loss. San Diego plays Friday at San Francisco.
Brandon Beachy (0-2) allowed four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and a walk while fanning five in 5 2/3 frames in defeat. Peter Moylan walked home the go-ahead run, and Mike Dunn allowed Rollins' grand slam.
With the game tied, 2-2, in the sixth, the Phillies moved ahead by taking advantage of an error.
Jayson Werth doubled with one down and was replaced by John Mayberry, Jr. After Raul Ibanez was intentionally walked by Beachy, Greg Dobbs struck out, and the Braves turned to Moylan.
Carlos Ruiz bounced what looked to be an inning-ending groundout to third, but Brooks Conrad's throw to second was off the mark, leaving the bases loaded with two outs. Pinch-hitter Domonic Brown followed by batting back from a 1-2 count to work a walk and force in the go-ahead run in Mayberry.
Atlanta then turned to Dunn to get out of the inning, but Rollins crushed the first pitch he saw just over the wall in left for a grand slam and a 7-2 Phillies lead.
Philadelphia added four runs in the eighth on Ben Francisco's RBI single, Chase Utley's bases-loaded walk and Ryan Howard's two-run single.
Lee's three-run double in the ninth off Mike Zagurski accounted for the final margin.
The Braves jumped on Kendrick for a run in the first.
Jason Heyward drew a one-out walk, and Lee sent a laser double down the right field line with two outs, scoring Heyward without a play at the plate for a 1-0 lead.
The Phillies tied the game in the fourth on consecutive one-out singles by Howard, Werth and Ibanez, with Howard scoring on Ibanez's base hit. After Dobbs struck out, Ruiz sent a single to left-center to plate Werth for a 2-1 Philadelphia advantage.
Beachy drew a leadoff walk to begin the fifth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Consecutive two-out singles from Brian McCann and Lee scored Beachy to the game, 2-2.
"It's tough. We didn't play good baseball at all today," McCann said. "We really didn't do anything good, but we've got to turn the page. We've got two games left."
The Phillies announced their postseason rotation on Friday. Roy Halladay will start Game 1 of the NLDS on Wednesday, while Roy Oswalt will take the mound in Game 2 and Cole Hamels in Game 3...Philadelphia leads the season series, 9-7...The Phillies have won 20 of their last 24 road games...The Braves scored their first first-inning run since September 11...Rollins' last grand slam came on July 25, 2009 against St. Louis...Ruiz finished the game with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI...Phillies starters now have 70 wins this season, the first time the team has accomplished that feat since 1980...Lee recorded his 11th career game with five or more RBI. His career-best is seven, done twice.