GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ATLANTA (83-75) at PHILADELPHIA (86-72)

NL: ATLANTA (83-75) at PHILADELPHIA (86-72)

<h3>Phillies just one game back in NL East</h3>

Atlanta (83-75) at Philadelphia (86-72), 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- On September 12 the PhiladelphiaPhillies were seven games out of the National League EastDivision lead. Thanks to a 10-3 surge and the New York Metsrecent 4-9 skid, what seemed to be a slim possibility is nowwell within reach.


As the Phillies host the Atlanta Braves in the rubber game of athree-game series on Thursday, they sit just one game behind theNew York Mets (87-71) in the NL East for the first time allseason.


Philadelphia (86-72) is also just one game back of the San DiegoPadres (87-71) in the NL wild card chase.


Atlanta is not officially eliminated, but needs plenty of helpas it is four games behind the Mets in the NL East and four backof the Padres in the wild card race with just four games toplay.


Rookie Kyle Kendrick (9-4, 3.83 ERA) will take the mound for thePhillies. The 23-year-old righthander has faced Atlanta onlyonce this season, giving up two runs over five innings onSeptember 5.


Kendrick pitched six innings in his last start againstWashington on Saturday, allowing one unearned run on six hitswith six strikeouts.


Veteran John Smoltz (14-7, 2.95) will be on the mound for theBraves. The 40-year-old righthander has not allowed more thanthree runs in his last 10 starts, going at least six innings ineach outing.


Smoltz went eight strong innings in his last start on Saturdayagainst Milwaukee, giving up two runs on two hits and threewalks with eight strikeouts. In his only start againstPhiladelphia this season, Smoltz gave up three runs over sixinnings back on April 2.


Atlanta has won eight of their last 10 games.

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA AT PHILADELPHIA -- LINEUPS

ATLANTA PHILADELPHIA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Kelly Johnson 2B .279 16 68 Jimmy Rollins SS .296 30 91
Edgar Renteria SS .333 12 57 Shane Victorino RF .284 12 46
Chipper Jones 3B .339 28 100 Chase Utley 2B .334 22 101
Mark Teixeira 1B .320 16 54 Ryan Howard 1B .265 43 128
Brian Mccann C .272 18 92 Aaron Rowand CF .310 26 88
Jeff Francoeur RF .290 17 101 Pat Burrell LF .258 29 95
Andruw Jones CF .222 26 94 Greg Dobbs 3B .276 10 55
Matt Diaz LF .335 12 45 Carlos Ruiz C .255 6 54
John Smoltz RHP .093 0 2 Kyle Kendrick RHP .162 0 2
(14-7, 2.95) (9-4, 3.83)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL AT PHILADELPHIA
WARMUPS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ (14-7, 2.95)
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK (9-4, 3.83)

UMPIRES: HP - ED RAPUANO
1B - ED HICKOX
2B - C.B. BUCKNOR
3B - JOE WEST

WEATHER: 84 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 11 mph, out to center</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL AT PHILADELPHIA
STARTING BATS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ AND BRIAN MCCANN
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK AND CARLOS RUIZ

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: K JOHNSON (.279, 16 HR, 68 RBI)
E RENTERIA (.333, 12 HR, 57 RBI)
C JONES (.339, 28 HR, 100 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 0
PHILADELPHIA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: J ROLLINS (.296, 30 HR, 91 RBI)
S VICTORINO (.284, 12 HR, 46 RBI)
C UTLEY (.334, 22 HR, 101 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS PHILADELPHIA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320
B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Rollins ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
S Victorino rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
C Utley 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .334
R Howard 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
A Rowand cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
P Burrell lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
G Dobbs 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Ruiz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
K Kendrick p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .162

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 0 -- 0
PHILADELPHIA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.95

PHILADELPHIA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Kendrick 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.80

Pitches-strikes: K Kendrick 9-5. Ground balls-fly balls: K Kendrick 1-2.
Batters faced: K Kendrick 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL AT PHILADELPHIA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY JOHN SMOLTZ ALLOWED JIMMY ROLLINS TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, S VICTORINO ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C UTLEY (.334, 22 HR, 101 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY MARK TEIXEIRA ALLOWED SHANE VICTORINO TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C UTLEY ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0
PHILADELPHIA 2 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: R HOWARD (.265, 43 HR, 128 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY RYAN HOWARD (44) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF JOHN SMOLTZ SCORED CHASE UTLEY.
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0, PHILADELPHIA 4

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: A ROWAND (.310, 26 HR, 88 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 2
PHILADELPHIA 4 4 3 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M TEIXEIRA (.320, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
B MCCANN (.272, 18 HR, 92 RBI)
J FRANCOEUR (.290, 17 HR, 101 RBI)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS PHILADELPHIA (4) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320
B McCann c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Francoeur rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (3, throw); M Teixeira (4, ground ball).


PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Rollins ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
S Victorino rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
C Utley 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333
R Howard 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .267
A Rowand cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
P Burrell lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257
G Dobbs 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
C Ruiz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
K Kendrick p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .162

Totals 7 4 3 2 0 2 1

BATTING: HR - R Howard (44, 1st inning off J Smoltz 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - R
Howard 2 (130). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 0 -- 0
PHILADELPHIA - 4 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 1 3 4 3 0 2 1 3.06

PHILADELPHIA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Kendrick 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.80

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 27-19; K Kendrick 9-5. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 1-0; K Kendrick 1-2. Batters faced: J Smoltz 7; K Kendrick 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 2
PHILADELPHIA 4 4 3 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C RUIZ (.255, 6 HR, 54 RBI)
K KENDRICK (.162, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
J ROLLINS (.297, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS PHILADELPHIA (4) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .320
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .271
J Francoeur rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .221
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - B McCann. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (3, throw); M Teixeira (4, ground ball).


PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Rollins ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
S Victorino rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
C Utley 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333
R Howard 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .267
A Rowand cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
P Burrell lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257
G Dobbs 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
C Ruiz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
K Kendrick p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .162

Totals 7 4 3 2 0 2 1

BATTING: HR - R Howard (44, 1st inning off J Smoltz 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - R
Howard 2 (130). Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Utley-J Rollins-R Howard).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 00 -- 0
PHILADELPHIA - 4 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 1 3 4 3 0 2 1 3.06

PHILADELPHIA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Kendrick 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.77

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 27-19; K Kendrick 19-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 1-0; K Kendrick 3-3. Batters faced: J Smoltz 7; K Kendrick 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 1 2
PHILADELPHIA 4 0 4 4 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: M DIAZ (.335, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
J SMOLTZ (.093, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
K JOHNSON (.278, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS PHILADELPHIA (4) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Johnson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
E Renteria ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332
C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .320
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .271
J Francoeur rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .221
M Diaz lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .335
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - B McCann. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (3, throw); M Teixeira (4, ground ball).


PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Rollins ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .296
S Victorino rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .285
C Utley 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333
R Howard 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .267
A Rowand cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
P Burrell lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257
G Dobbs 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
C Ruiz c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258
K Kendrick p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .158

Totals 11 4 4 2 0 3 4

BATTING: HR - R Howard (44, 1st inning off J Smoltz 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - R
Howard 2 (130). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Victorino 1. Team
LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Rollins (38, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Utley-J Rollins-R Howard).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 00 -- 0
PHILADELPHIA - 40 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 2 4 4 3 0 3 1 3.05

PHILADELPHIA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Kendrick 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.77

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 40-27; K Kendrick 19-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 3-0; K Kendrick 3-3. Batters faced: J Smoltz 11; K Kendrick 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 2 2
PHILADELPHIA 4 0 4 4 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C UTLEY (.333, 0-FOR-1)
R HOWARD (.267, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)
A ROWAND (.310, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS PHILADELPHIA (4) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Johnson 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
E Renteria ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .331
C Jones 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .339
M Teixeira 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .320
B McCann c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .271
J Francoeur rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
A Jones cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .221
M Diaz lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
J Smoltz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 9 0 2 0 1 0 4

BATTING: S - J Smoltz. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Renteria 1.
GIDP - B McCann. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - J Smoltz (3, throw); M Teixeira (4, ground ball).


PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Rollins ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .296
S Victorino rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .285
C Utley 2b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333
R Howard 1b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .267
A Rowand cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
P Burrell lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257
G Dobbs 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
C Ruiz c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258
K Kendrick p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .158

Totals 11 4 4 2 0 3 4

BATTING: HR - R Howard (44, 1st inning off J Smoltz 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - R
Howard 2 (130). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Victorino 1. Team
LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Rollins (38, 2nd base off J Smoltz/B McCann).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Utley-J Rollins-R Howard).


----------------------------------------------------
ATLANTA - 000 -- 0
PHILADELPHIA - 40 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Smoltz 2 4 4 3 0 3 1 3.05

PHILADELPHIA ip h r er bb so hr era
K Kendrick 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 3.74

Pitches-strikes: J Smoltz 40-27; K Kendrick 30-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Smoltz 3-0; K Kendrick 4-5. Batters faced: J Smoltz 11; K Kendrick 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL AT PHILADELPHIA - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY PAT BURRELL (30) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF JOHN SMOLTZ SCORED AARON ROWAND.
CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0, PHILADELPHIA 6

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: G DOBBS (.275, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: ATLANTA at PHILADELPHIA

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 2 2
PHILADELPHIA 4 0 2 6 6 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - JOHN SMOLTZ
PHI - KYLE KENDRICK

DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: C JONES (.339, 0-FOR-1)
M TEIXEIRA (.320, 0-FOR-0, BB)
B MCCANN (.271, 0-FOR-1)</div>