BOX SCORE
ATLANTA The Phillies on Tuesday night were 4-2 winners in the first of 18 meetings against the Atlanta Braves this season.The win evened the Phillies record at 12-12 and allowed them to pick up a game in the NL East standings on both Washington and Atlanta. The Phils are just 2 games behind first-place Washington at this early stage of the season.The Phils have won eight in a row against Atlanta dating to last season.Starting pitching reportCole Hamels held Atlanta to two runs over six innings. He allowed six hits, including a home run, walked two and struck out six.Atlanta right-hander Brandon Beachy allowed just two runs over seven innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out two.Bullpen reportThere was an encouraging development in the bullpen as winning pitcher Antonio Bastardo pitched his first full inning of the season, retiring the Braves in order in the seventh. Bastardo, who, according to manager Charlie Manuel, had some stiffness in his pitching arm in spring training, pitched just 3 13 innings in April and allowed eight baserunners. Manuel says Bastardo needs work to build effectiveness. This was a step in the right direction.Chad Qualls survived two singles and a walk (he got a big double play ball) in protecting a 4-2 lead in the eighth.Jonathan Papelbon improved to 9 for 9 in save chances.The Phillies rallied for two runs against Atlanta lefty Jonny Venters to break a 2-2 tie in the eighth. Venters hadnt allowed a run this season in 8 23 innings.At the plateTy Wigginton got the start at first base and drove in the Phillies first two runs with a two-out single in the fourth. The hit came one batter after Hunter Pence stroked a hustle double to right to put runners on second and third.Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. had a bloop double to right with one out in the eighth. He moved to third on a single by Jimmy Rollins and scored the tie-breaking run on a wild pitch by Venters. Rollins finished with two hits and has six in four games in the leadoff spot.Pence drove in an insurance run in the eighth.Brian McCann homered for the Braves.In the fieldAtlanta rightfielder Matt Diaz made a long sprint and running catch on Wiggintons long drive to the wall in the seventh. Wiggintons shot would have been out of many stadiums.Health checkJim Thome was unavailable for a third straight game because of a bad back. Team officials are debating whether to put him on the disabled list.Reliever Brian Sanches was called up from Triple A to replace reliever David Herndon, who went on the DL Monday with elbow inflammation. Assistant GM Scott Proefrock said Herndons exact injury was still being diagnosed.Up nextRoy Halladay (3-2, 1.95) opposes right-hander Tommy Hanson (3-2, 3.00) on Wednesday night.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.