video thumbnail

Maholm strikes out seven, allows a single run

The Braves haven't made their hunt for a National League Wild Card spot any easier on themselves of late. Atlanta's lost four of five, including the first two games of their three-game series against the sub-.500 Phillies.

That series is scheduled to conclude with a 5:05 p.m. ET contest Sunday at Turner Field, with a matchup of lefties that won't make things any easier for the Braves. They have Paul Maholm (11-9, 3.44 ERA) on the hill, with Cole Hamels (14-6, 2.99 ERA) trying to match his single-season high in wins at 15 for Philadelphia.

Hamels was supposed to start Wednesday, but he had a stomach issue that's been attributed to a bad salad. He's going to be on nine days of rest, and has been on top of his game: Hamels has won his last three decisions and went 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA in five August starts.

Maholm has lost in two straight outings, although he didn't pitch terribly in either. He went 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs to the Padres his last time out, that after he surrendered four runs to the Nationals in seven innings. His offense gave him one run combined in those two contests.

The Braves have plated two or fewer runs in eight of their last 11 losses.

The home run has been an issue for Maholm -- each of the 10 runs he's given up in his first five starts with the Braves has come via the homer.

"You try to be aggressive," Maholm said after Monday's 3-0 loss to the Padres. "Sometimes it hurts you and sometimes it's good."

Before this series, the Phillies were having a tough time against Atlanta, with just one win in their previous nine games against the Braves. With Saturday's 5-1 win, though, the Phillies have won five of their last seven series at Turner Field.

Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins could reach a milestone with another big game Sunday. After a 3-for-5 performance that included a home run Saturday, he's four hits shy of 2,000 for his big league career.

Phillies: Ruiz may be done for season
Catcher Carlos Ruiz has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 because of a left foot injury, and with the Phillies far away from a playoff spot, the team is considering shutting him down. Ruiz and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke Friday on the subject.

"Definitely, if I want to come back, I want to make sure I'm 100 percent," Ruiz said. "I don't want to come back and the injury happens again. I don't try to push it too much -- just taking it nice and easy with my running. If I feel something, stop. But so far, I feel real good. It'll be a little hard. It's not completely gone. I still feel just a little bit."

Braves: Five join team Saturday
Atlanta made four callups from Triple-A Gwinnett for September's roster expansion Saturday -- right-hander Peter Moylan, first baseman Lyle Overbay, outfielder Jose Constanza and catcher J.C. Boscan. Utility man Jeff Baker, who came over in a trade with the Tigers on Friday night, also arrived.

"You can mix and match, and the matchups we have, use them to our advantage," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It's good to have [guys] on the bench."

Overbay is the biggest name in the bunch, hitting .292 with a .367 on-base percentage for the D-backs before being released last month.

Moylan threw a scoreless inning Saturday.

Worth noting
The Braves have won nine of 14 meetings with the Phils this season.

MLB.com Comments