''Our guys battled,'' Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. ''We just came up a little short.''
The teams combined for 28 hits in a game that took 4 hours, 13 minutes.
Jake Arrieta lasted just 1 1/3 innings, surrendering seven runs on six hits and three walks.
“I just wasn’t able to locate anything going,” Arrieta said. “I just flat out didn’t throw the ball very well. It was a weird night. It’s pretty hard to give up seven or eight runs in an inning and I found a way to do that tonight. I look forward to forgetting that as soon as possible and moving on because if you beat yourself up too much it can carry over.”
Right-hander David Hale followed Arrieta, surrendering three additional runs allowing the Braves to put up a 10-spot in the second frame. It was Hale's first action since Aug. 11.
The Phillies battled back though, scoring six in the third. McCutchen doubled to score a run, Hoskins hit a two-run home homer, Gregorius tripled to score two runs and Phil Gosselin’s fielder’s choice plated another.
“When it got to 10-4 I thought, 'We’re going to hang around this game and we’re going to have a chance to win,'” Girardi said. “Our guys battled.”
Quinn and McCutchen homered back-to-back in the eighth, but it was too little too late for the Phillies.
The loss dropped the club to a game below .500 at 14-15 and three-games off the pace in the NL East behind the division-leading Braves.
The Phillies will play host to a four-game set with the Nationals starting on Monday. Rookie Spencer Howard will start the opener.
Ranger update
Ranger Suarez threw a bullpen session on Sunday and could be ready to rejoin the club soon. Suarez was 6-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 37 games last season.
__________________________________
Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PGordonPBR