MLB GAME RECAP

Braves rally to beat Phillies 5-2

The Sports Xchange

April 25, 2015 at 7:50 pm.

Apr 25, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Eric Young Jr. (4) hits an RBI double in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves defeated the Phillies, 5-2. Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

PHILADELPHIA — Eric Young Jr. doubled home the go-ahead run in a three-run seventh inning as the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 on Saturday night, ending a four-game losing streak.

Shelby Miller (3-0) pitched six innings to earn the victory.

First baseman Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer for Philadelphia, which has dropped 10 of 13.

Phillies starter David Buchanan (0-4), winless over his last 13 starts, allowed only one hit over the first six innings, a one-out double by left fielder Jonny Gomes in the fifth, and carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh.

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons hit Buchanan’s first pitch of that inning into the seats in left-center field for his first homer of the season, and two outs later Buchanan walked Gomes and third baseman Kelly Johnson.

Jake Diekman came on to face pinch hitter Chris Johnson, who grounded an RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Young, hitless in his previous nine at-bats, then doubled into the left-field corner to put the Braves ahead.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski and Kelly Johnson singled home runs in the eighth, making it 5-2.

Buchanan retired the first nine hitters he faced, then issued a leadoff walk to Braves right fielder Nick Markakis in the fourth. Markakis was erased on a double play, and Buchanan entered the fifth still having pitched to the minimum.

With one out, however, Gomes lined his double inches inside the left-field line for the first Atlanta hit.

Buchanan retired the next five he faced, with no small assist from shortstop Freddy Galvis, who in the sixth ranged to his left and made a diving stop of Markakis’ grounder behind second base, then threw the Atlanta outfielder out while lying on the ground.

Buchanan surrendered three runs and two hits over 6 2/3 innings, while striking out three and walking three.

Miller allowed two runs and three hits over his six innings of work. He struck out three and walked two.

Cody Martin and Jim Johnson each worked a scoreless inning in relief for Atlanta, and Jason Grilli pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Philadelphia right fielder Jeff Francoeur doubled with one out in the fourth, and Howard lined an 0-1 fastball from Miller over the center field fence for his second homer of the season.

NOTES: Philadelphia RHP Chad Billingsley, on the disabled list since March 27 following right flexor tendon surgery, was scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, a start delayed when Billingsley contracted a virus. Manager Ryne Sandberg said Billingsley will make “at least one more start” before he rejoins the major league team. … Sandberg was less certain about a return for OF Domonic Brown, who has also been on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley after going on the disabled list March 27 because of left Achilles tendinitis. Brown is only 3-for-24 in his first six games for the IronPigs. Sandberg said substantive conversations about Brown’s return are “right around the corner.” … The Phillies’ 1-0 victory over Atlanta on Friday was their first home shutout since they beat San Diego, 3-0, on June 11, 2014. … Braves RF Nick Markakis saw an eight-game hitting streak end Friday.

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