Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) – Raul Ibanez had a pair of hits and drove in two runs, and the Phillies capitalized off another error from Brooks Conrad to beat the Braves, 7-0, and deflate Atlanta’s playoff chances.
Conrad, whose poor throw to second led to five unearned runs for Philadelphia in Friday’s series opener, was off the mark on another throw to second base before the Phillies scored four runs in the seventh inning. The Braves, who need to win only one game in this series to assure themselves at least a tie in the wild card race, are now all square with the Padres after San Diego beat San Francisco on Saturday.
The Phillies, meanwhile, clinched at least a share of the league’s best record for the first time in the 128-year history of the franchise.
Vance Worley got the spot start for Philadelphia in place of a resting Roy Halladay and hurled five shutout frames, allowing just a hit and two walks. Antonio Bastardo (2-0) earned the win for throwing a scoreless sixth.
The Braves, who honored outgoing manager Bobby Cox with a lengthy pregame ceremony that included many former players and coaches, managed only three hits in the critical loss.
Tommy Hanson matched Worley with five scoreless innings in the start, but Jonny Venters (4-4) yielded four runs — two earned — on four hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings to take the loss.