Kyle Kendrick took the hill for the Fightins against the Atlanta Braves.  Kendrick held Atlanta scoreless thru three frames however Brian McCann ripped a home run in the fourth to put Atlanta on the board.  Meanwhile Jair Jurrjens held the Phillies scoreless thru eight innings with little trouble giving up only three hits.  Kendrick was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning trailing by one run.  The Braves stranded nine runners thru six at bats including twice leaving the bases loaded.

 J.C. Romero was called upon to pitch the seventh inning and allowed one hit and no runs. Chad Durbin came on for the eighth and pitched a perfect inning.   Brad Lidge started the ninth and gave up hits to the first two hitters he faced and then walked the next batter to load the bases. Mark Teixeira then ripped a single to right to score the second run.  Brian McCann then busted the game open as he ripped a grand slam home run.  Lidge has been shaky in his last few efforts albeit this marks the first time he has been hammered in an outing.  Clay Condrey came in and took more lumps before ending the inning as the Braves batted around plus three. The Braves put up seven runs in the inning.  Jurrjens was then lifted after eight frames in favor of Will Ohman who closed the game.

Jayson Werth smoked a liner up the middle in the Phillies eighth but Jurrjens made an outstanding play to stop the ball and throw him out. It was the loudest ball hit all night by the Phillies until Chase Utley doubled in the ninth and Ryan Howard followed with his 30th home run.

 Chatter

 It was “Christmas in July” night at the home ballpark but no gifts were delivered to the Phillies as the offense was held stagnant.  Another sold out crowd was on hand but most of the night was very quiet as nothing happened to prompt excitement.  The team has only hit .238 since June 14^th so perhaps an offensive acquisition is indeed the need rather than pitching help.  Chase Utley was even booed by the Philly un-faithful in a couple of his at-bats as he is one of the key players who is battling a prolonged slump, the double in the ninth was his first hit in 18 at bats.

 Charlie Manuel had a closed door team meeting before the game. He told the press the team had “lost the shine on their chandelier” and needed to get it back!  We will see what long term impact the meeting will have.  It truly is up to the players.  Pedro Feliz was a late scratch at third base as he suffered back spasms. The Phillies had dominated the Braves thus far this season winning 8 of the first 9 games played so this one was a definite payback.