Bats erupt for 18 hits; Phillies complete sweep of Braves

By PATRICK GORDON | Managing Editor
June 18 2014, 4:15PM EDT.
@Philabaseball

ATLANTA - The Phillies offense erupted for a season-high 18 hits with Marlon Byrd and John Mayberry Jr. combining for six RBIs as Philadelphia completed a three-game sweep of the Braves on Wednesday afternoon with a 10-5 win at Turner Field.

The Phillies jumped ahead in the opening frame, working Braves starter Aaron Harang for 30 pitches and scoring a pair of runs, but the Braves answered in bottom portion of the inning and took a 4-2 lead.

The Phillies followed with a five-spot in the second and never looked back, outscoring the Braves over the final eight innings 8-1.

Byrd paced the offense with three hits, including a solo home run in the eighth. Ryan Howard, Cesar Hernandez, Wil Nieves, and Domonic Brown each collected three hits in the contest.

Roberto Hernandez settled down after a rough start, tossing six innings while allowing five runs on eight hits and five walks. Ken Giles worked a pair of scoreless innings in relief, striking out three.

With the win the Phillies have won seven of their last nine games and head to St. Louis just 4 1/2 games off the pace in the National League East.

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