The Phillies mounted a three-run, two-out rally in the sixth inning and added the game-winner on a Marlon Byrd groundout in the seventh to edge past the Braves, 5-4, Friday night.
The Phillies trailed by four headed into the fifth before reeling off five unanswered runs in the opener of the final homestand of the season.
Just to add some showmanship, crotch-grabbing reliever Jonathan Papelbon appeared at Citizens Bank Park for the first time since earning an ejection and seven-game suspension two weeks ago.
Starting pitching
In his final start of a topsy-turvy season, Jerome Williams pitched well enough to keep the Phillies in the game.
Williams allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings. Williams struck out three and got 10 outs on ground balls for the no-decision.
Meanwhile, after opening the season with a 2-5 record and 6.51 ERA in 28 games for Houston and Texas, Williams got it together with the Phillies and finished the season with a 4-2 record and 2.83 ERA in nine starts.
MLB
Ervin Santana retired the first eight hitters of the game and took a four-run lead into the fifth inning only to watch the Phillies peck away. Santana left the game with the score tied with two outs in the sixth, surrendering four runs on eight hits and a pair of walks.
Bullpen report
Luis Garcia pitched a scoreless seventh inning before turning it over to Ken Giles for a scoreless eighth.
Papelbon faced four batters in the ninth to pick up his 39th save of the season.
At the plate
Cody Asche and Freddy Galvis collected a pair of hits and an RBI to help the Phils’ comeback.
Ryan Howard had the Phillies’ lone extra-base hit with a two-out double through the shift in the seventh inning to set up the go-ahead RBI for Byrd.
Additionally, Williams had a hit and a sacrifice bunt, giving the Phillies’ pitchers six hits in their last six at-bats.
The Braves scored two in the first and two more in the fourth on a long homer from Chris Johnson. The Braves went 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position and Freddie Freeman was the lone player to get two hits.
Up next
The series continues with the penultimate game of the season Saturday night. A.J. Burnett (8-17, 4.57), who is 2-11 with a 5.85 ERA since the All-Star break, faces right-hander Aaron Harang (11-12, 3.60).
Burnett is 5-13 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 career appearances against the Braves.