Phillies Complete Sweep of Braves

The last time Philadelphia swept a three-game series at home against Atlanta, Larry Bowa was playing for the Phillies instead of managing them.

Amaury Telemaco pitched eight shutout innings and Philadelphia completed its first three-game sweep of Atlanta at Veterans Stadium since 1977, beating the Braves 3-2 Sunday.

"It`s exciting to beat any team, I don`t really care who it is, wins are wins" said Bowa, who played on that 1977 Phillies team. "I don`t care about last year or 1980 or 1977. I worry about today."

Doug Glanville hit a two-run homer as the Phillies outscored Atlanta 15-6 in the series. The loss dropped the Braves into last place in the NL East while Philadelphia, which finished in a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the worst record in the majors last year, remained in first.

Philadelphia swept a four-game set at Atlanta in May 1995. But the Phillies had not done it at home against the Braves in a series of more than two games in 24 years.

On Aug. 31, 1977, Steve Carlton beat Phil Niekro 6-1 in a matchup of future Hall of Famer pitchers as the Phillies finished off that three-game sweep at the Vet.

Telemaco (2-0), who not pitched more than four innings in an appearance this season, allowed four hits. He struck out four, walked two and allowed only two runners past first base.

"I had location and found my rhythm today," said Telemaco, whose last appearance came on eight days` rest in the frigid cold last week in Chicago. "I felt much better than last time."

Telemaco surrendered just one hit after the third inning, a single by Chipper Jones in the seventh.

"This is getting to be like a recording," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of his team`s lack of scoring as the Braves have scored just 28 runs in their last 14 games.

Jose Mesa relieved to start the ninth and the Braves went on to score two runs. B.J. Surhoff led off with a single and scored on Mesa`s wild pitch with one out.

Wayne Gomes relieved with two runners on base and, after an RBI single by Dave Martinez, finished for his first save.

Atlanta had a chance to score in the third, but was stopped by the defense of catcher Mike Lieberthal and right fielder Bobby Abreu in the third.

Speedy Rafael Furcal doubled and tried to score on a single by Surhoff, but Lieberthal completely blocked the plate while waiting for the throw from Abreu and made the tag.

"I didn`t think there would be a play because of who was running," Lieberthal said. "It was just instinct."

John Burkett (0-3) lost despite allowing four hits in seven innings. He gave up three runs.

"I wish I had that one back," Burkett said. "We`ve been in a lot of tight games and it would have been nice to win this one."

The Phillies got a run in the first when Jimmy Rollins scored from first on a double to left-center field by Abreu.

Glanville`s two-run homer came with two outs in the fifth with a 0-2 count.

Notes:
The Phillies also had a three-game sweep in Atlanta in 1986. ... Atlanta has managed just 28 runs in the last 14 games. Philadelphia`s Pat Burrell has struck out 27 times in 63 at-bats. He fanned once Sunday.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)