Victory Puts Braves on Top in the NL East

The Atlanta Braves are back where they thought they belonged--in first place.

Chipper Jones drove in three runs and Odalis Perez gave up two earned runs Wednesday as the Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-4, at Philadelphia to move ahead of the slumping Phillies by a half-game in the National League East.

“It was a matter of time,” outfielder Brian Jordan said. “We knew if we started to play good, we’d go on a streak. It was a test for the Phillies, but they’re a young team.”

The Braves, who trailed the Phillies by eight games on June 1, have won six in a row, sweeping the New York Mets and the Phillies on the road. The nine-time defending division champions are in first place for the first time since defeating the Cincinnati Reds on opening day.

“I think there was some urgency early in the season,” Jones said. “I don’t think we expected to catch them by the All-Star break. Eight games is a big hole.”

The Phillies, who tied the Chicago Cubs for the worst record in the majors last season, are 7-16 since topping out at 35-18 on June 1.

After the game, Philadelphia Manager Larry Bowa held a team meeting for about 25 minutes.

“I’m embarrassed, not by the players. I’m embarrassed because I don’t think I’m doing the job right now,” Bowa said. “I’ll do better.”

Perez (6-5) gave up three hits, struck out four and walked two in five innings. He gave up four runs, but two were unearned because of errors by Jones.

Arizona 7, Houston 5--Curt Schilling, supported by Jay Bell’s second-inning grand slam at Phoenix, became the major leagues’ first 12-game winner and the Diamondbacks ended a three-game losing streak.

Schilling (12-2) survived two solo home runs by Moises Alou and one each by Lance Bergman and Jeff Bagwell. The right-hander gave up five runs and seven hits in his fifth complete game, tops in the majors. He struck out 10 and walked one.

New York 5, Chicago 4--Joe McEwing hit a two-run homer and Todd Zeile and Lenny Harris had run-scoring singles at Chicago to help the Mets end a six-game losing streak.

Sammy Sosa hit two homers for Cubs and is tied for third in the National League with 25.

Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 2--Jason Schmidt pitched a four-hitter for the Pirates at Pittsburgh and hit a home run to lead the Pirates.

Schmidt, a career .086 batter and one of the majors’ weakest-hitting pitchers, lofted a fly ball off the left-field foul pole in the sixth inning for his first homer in 246 at-bats.

Florida 9, Montreal 1--Jesus Sanchez gave up two hits in eight innings in his first start and Charles Johnson and Mike Lowell each drove in three runs at Miami.

Sanchez struck out three and walked two, giving the Marlins their second impressive pitching performance in as many games. Brad Penny gave up one hit in eight innings in a 3-0 victory Tuesday.

Colorado 10, San Diego 9--Jeff Cirillo singled home the winning run in the ninth inning at Denver.

Cirillo, Ben Petrick, Todd Walker and pinch-hitter Terry Shumpert homered for the Rockies. Petrick drove in four runs.

Cincinnati 3, St. Louis 1--Rookie Lance Davis pitched eight impressive innings at St. Louis for his first victory.

Davis (1-0) gave up four hits and one walk, striking out five. The left-hander, making only his third major league start, retired 15 in a row after Albert Pujols doubled leading off the fourth inning.