All sorts of wrong resulted in a 5-4 Phillies win over the Braves in the series opener.
The Phillies scored the first three runs of the game in the first inning when Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer. The Braves came back with a run in the home half on a Chipper Jones RBI single, but two were left in scoring position after consecutive strikeouts by Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman.
Braves starter Brandon Beachy was pulled after two innings due to a strained oblique. Cristhian Martinez took over and pitched four scoreless innings behind him, and he also tied the game in the fifth with a two-run double.
The Braves took the lead in the sixth, 5-4, when Alex Gonzalez singled, Joe Mather doubled him to third, and he scored on a wild pitch. But the Phillies came back with the tying run in the seventh on a controversial call. Jimmy Rollins doubled and Shane Victorino struck out to end the inning, only the third strike was called a ball, and Victorino took advantage with an RBI single that tied the game at five. Another thing going against the Braves in that situation was the fact that Fredi Gonzalez turned Victorino around to hit right-handed, which is the exact opposite of what you want to do, yet he doesn't seem to understand these things.
The Phillies took the lead in the eighth when Joe Mather misplayed a ball down the line that resulted in a double for Howard. He scored on a single by Raul Ibanez to put them ahead, 5-4, where it remained.
Martin Prado went 3-5 with a double and run scored. Gonzalez went 3-4 with two runs scored. Mather went 2-3 with two doubles and a run scored. Martinez picked up two RBIs on his first career hit - a double. Chipper had an RBI and two walks.
Uggla went 0-5, striking out twice with runners at third base and once with the tying run at second base for the final out of the game. He is now under .200 in batting average. Brian McCann grounded into a double play with the bases loaded. The Braves left 10 on base and missed several opportunities.
Beachy allowed three runs on six hits in two innings, walking one and striking out one. He obviously didn't have much going for him in this game, but he wasn't given a chance to settle in before being forced out of the game. There is a good chance he misses at least one start for this, and Mike Minor seems the likely candidate to replace him.
Martinez pitched four scoreless innings with no hits or walks, striking out four. Cory Gearrin gave up the double to Rollins with two outs in the seventh and was charged with a run when Eric O'Flaherty allowed the RBI single to Victorino. O'Flaherty gave up the go-ahead run in the eighth and should not have been pitching to begin with.
Howard went 2-4 with a double, homer and three RBIs. Ibanez and Victorino each had two hits and one RBI. The Phillies had just one walk as a team.
Cole Hamels allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings, walking one and striking out seven. A combination of pretty much the entire Phillies bullpen held the Braves scoreless after that.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Phillies fans check out The Good Phight.