Harang, Galvis help Phillies get walk-off win over Braves
PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have scored the fewest runs in baseball this season, but they got the pitching performance they needed Friday in a 1-0 walk-off victory over the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
Aaron Harang threw eight scoreless innings and Ken Giles pitched a scoreless ninth, setting up the Phillies' game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Freddy Galvis singled, reached second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored when Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman could not handle a ground ball from Ben Revere.
"You know what?" said Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg, who had his team on the field early to work on fundamentals after a sloppy loss Thursday. "We played a real clean game." More >
The Braves managed just two hits, but also grounded into three double plays to kill the few opportunities provided by Harang, who rejuvenated his career while proving to be one of Atlanta's most consistent starters last year.
"We didn't do anything against Harang, a guy that we've seen pitch 30-something times," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He did a good job of keeping us off balance."
Video: ATL@PHI: Galvis picks sharp grounder and turns two
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Harang keeps dealing: The Phillies' right-hander remains one of the team's brightest spots, allowing two hits and one walk and striking out six in eight scoreless innings. He retired the first 10 batters he faced before walking a batter with one out in the fourth and he allowed his first hit with one out in the fifth. More >
Video: ATL@PHI: Harang stymies Braves over eight scoreless
Wood bends, but doesn't break: Braves starting pitcher Alex Wood proved perfect in just one of the six innings he pitched, but ended up completing 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Wood stranded two runners in the first inning and limited the Phillies to one hit in five at-bats with runners in scoring position. But his effort was ultimately preserved by Cody Martin, who retired Carlos Ruiz to escape the bases-loaded threat he inherited with two outs in the sixth. More >
Video: ATL@PHI: Wood holds Phils scoreless over 5 2/3
Galvis makes it happen: Galvis easily is one of the team's biggest surprises. He opened the season without much of a track record of offense, but went 3-for-4 to improve to .345 for the season. He also showed his instincts on the basepaths, advancing to third on a passed ball in the ninth. It set up the winning run. He also helped turn three double plays to keep the game scoreless. More >
Video: ATL@PHI: Galvis hit with pie as he talks walk-off
Freeman's frustration: Freeman felt he would have had a play at the plate had he not fumbled Revere's game-ending grounder. But along with being miffed about committing two of his team's season-high four errors, the All-Star first baseman was visibly frustrated after striking out twice in three at-bats. He has gone 1-for-14 with seven strikeouts during Atlanta's current four-game losing streak. More >
Video: ATL@PHI: Harang whiffs Freeman in the 2nd frame
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Martin, Luis Avilan and Jim Johnson combined to strand seven inherited baserunners on Friday night. The Braves bullpen has struggled lately but it leads the National League with an 8.1 (3-for-37) inherited runners scoring percentage.
Video: ATL@PHI: Avilan retires Asche for big out in the 8th
WHAT'S NEXT
Braves: Shelby Miller will oppose David Buchanan when the Braves and Phillies resume their three-game series on Saturday night. Miller has posted a 1.97 ERA during a 10-start stretch dating back to Aug. 23, which was his most recent outing in Philadelphia.
Phillies: Maybe Ryan Howard and Chase Utley can get going against Miller. Howard is 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBIs, one walk and two strikeouts in his brief career against Miller. Chase Utley is 4-for-9.
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