Brian McCann experienced the worst half-season of his career with the Atlanta Braves in 2012. If this last series against the Phillies was any indication of what's to come, he might end up being an MVP candidate when it's all said and done.
McCann hit the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning to give the Braves a 4-3 lead, and the bullpen did the rest to give Atlanta the sweep in Philadelphia.
Jair Jurrjens continued to pitch well since his promotion to the majors. He worked seven innings of three-run ball, allowing six hits and just one walk. Jurrjens struck out four, and his lone mistake came on an elevated fastball that was hit out of the park.
That fastball was to Jason Pridie, who was filling in for an upset Shane Victorino about a demotion in the batting order. Pridie took the pitch and sent it deep into the right field stands, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Dan Uggla finally broke out of his slump with a monster two-run homer in the fourth, tying the game at 2-2. Pridie then struck again in the bottom of the fourth, doubling home a run.
McCann tied the game in the top of the fifth with an RBI-single to center field, and the score of 3-3 held until the seventh. B-Mac then drove a fastball over the plate deep into center field, bouncing it off the ivy of the backdrop.
Jurrjens, Kris Medlen and Craig Kimbrel all worked perfect innings in the seventh, eighth and ninth, cruising to a much-needed victory before the All-Star Break.
In a bit of bad news, Andrelton Simmons left the game with a broken pinky. He'll miss at least three weeks, and a return in early August seems likely at this point.
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