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Hamels and Phils sweep Braves

Baseball Betting Lines

07/04/2008 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cole Hamels was brilliant on the mound, as the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, to complete another three-game sweep at Turner Field.

The 24-year-old Hamels (9-5) gave up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 8 2/3 innings for Philadelphia, which has won seven straight against the Braves. The Phillies have also won their last six games in Atlanta, the longest streak since a six-game stretch from August 20, 1975-August 24, 1976.

Pedro Feliz finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for Philadelphia, which has won four of its last five overall. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard both clubbed solo homers, while Pat Burrell was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens (8-4) allowed four runs on eight hits in seven innings, while walking one and fanning six.

"This was a very big series for us," Jurrjens said. "We didn't have the pitching and the offense we needed to at least win a game."

Brian McCann doubled in the Braves only run with two away in the bottom of the ninth. Yunel Escobar, Gregor Blanco and Chipper Jones also doubled for Atlanta, which has dropped five in a row.

Philadelphia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on Utley's major league- leading 24th home run of the season, a two-out blast to right. Utley's homer was the first earned run Jurrjens had allowed in 24 1/3 innings of work.

Burrell ripped a double down the left-field line to open the fourth, moved to third on a ground out by Geoff Jenkins and scored on Feliz's infield single.

An opposite-field smash off the bat of Howard extended the Phillies lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Feliz's lead-off shot in the seventh made it a 4-0 game.

Hamels gave up a double to Jones to begin the ninth, then retired the next two batters before McCann stroked a double to right, spoiling the shutout bid. Tom Gordon was summoned from the bullpen and retired Jeff Francoeur on one pitch to notch his second save.

"It's tough to get those complete game shutouts," Hamels said. "You really have to stay with it. Being a couple of pitches away is really frustrating, (but) we were able to come away with the victory."

Game Notes

Hamels was one out shy of his third career shutout...Hamels has pitched seven or more innings in each of his last six starts...The Phillies also swept a three-game set at Turner Field from June 6-8...The last time the Phillies swept the Braves in two series of at least three games was 1977 (June 17-19 at Philadelphia and August 29-31 at Philadelphia). It's the first time the Phillies have accomplished the feat in Atlanta...Philadelphia has won eight of nine versus the Braves overall in 2008...The Braves left six men on base, while Philadelphia stranded four...Before the game, Atlanta activated infielder Martin Prado from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Brent Lillibridge to Triple-A Richmond...The Phillies host the Mets for four games starting on Friday...The Braves host Houston for three games beginning on Friday.