Freeman’s late double lifts Braves to 2-1 win over Phillies

ATLANTA The reality is that the Braves are overmatched most games. They have several inexperienced players in major roles and it shows.

“Sometimes you take your hat off and scratch your head,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said before playing the Phillies on Saturday at Turner Field. “But for the most part they’ve done a nice job and you’ve got to let them play and let them develop. We are trying to win ballgames at the same time.”

But for much of their game Saturday, it wasn’t about young Braves players making mistakes. This was a game in which rookie pitcher Ryan Weber gave the Braves a chance to win but squandered opportunities by veterans cost them until first baseman Freddie Freeman came through with a big hit.

Freeman’s two-run double in the eighth inning lifted the Braves to a 2-1 victory. The Braves won consecutive games for the first time since they won three in a row against the Marlins Aug. 6-8.

The Phillies tried to rally in the ninth inning when Andres Blanco hit a one-out double against relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino. After shortstop Andrelton Simmons made a diving catch for the second out and a wild pitch advanced Blanco to third, Vizcaino struck out Odubel Herrera to save the victory.

Weber’s third start in the majors was impressive. He held the Phillies to a run and two singles over seven innings. It looked as if it wouldn’t be good enough with Braves hitters unable to generate any offense against Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff, but Freeman broke through against relief pitcher Jerome Williams.

Nick Markakis led off the eighth with a single and Hector Olivera followed with a walk. Freeman had a full count when he smashed Williams’ pitch to deep left field, where Darnell made a leaping attempt to catch the ball but couldn’t handle it as it caromed off of the wall.

The Braves stranded three base runners in the second, when Andrelton Simmons also made an unforced out at the plate, and left two runners on base in the third. A botched sacrifice bunt by Michael Bourn also hurt them in the seventh.

Weber couldn’t get any run support but had the best outing of his young career. In his debut Weber limited the Phillies to four hits and two runs over six innings. In his next start Weber was charged with two of his four runs allowed when Matt Marksberry gave up a single that scored two inherited runners.

In the rematch with the Phillies, Weber faced two more than the minimum 21 batters through seven innings. He walked two batters and stuck out five while throwing 61 strikes on 98 pitches just the kind of efficient outing Gonzalez wanted.

The Phillies scored their one run against Weber in the second inning.

Brian Bogusevic led off with a hit and Carlos Ruiz followed with a single. Weber got Cody Asche to ground into a double play but Bogusevic scored. Freddy Galvis followed with a drive deep to right field that Nick Markakis caught at the wall.

That’s all the Phillies could get against Weber. He was perfect in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Weber walked Ruf with one out in the fourth inning but started a double play on Bogusevic’s ground ball back to him.

The Braves had a chance to get to Eickhoff in the second and third innings but couldn’t convert.

Back-to-back one out singles by Simmons and Jace Peterson put base runners at the corners for Michael Bourn. He hit a ground ball to first baseman Darin Ruf and Simmons made a break for home plate, where he was out on the throw. Weber struck out to end the inning.

Olivera knocked a one-out triple in the third. Right fielder Bogusevic gave chase but the drive sailed over his head out of reach and hit the wall. It was the first triple for Olivera since he made his big league debut on Sept. 1.

Freeman followed with a walk. But the rally fizzled when A.J. Pierzynski lined out softly to second base and Cameron Maybin popped out to foul territory in right field.

Peterson led off the seventh with a single. Bourn tried to move him with a bunt but the ball bounced just in front of the plate, making an easy play for catcher Carlos Ruiz to start a double play with a throw to second. Pinch hitter Nick Swisher grounded out to end the inning.

(c)2015 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.)

Visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) at www.ajc.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.