PHILADELPHIA 8/11/2007 10:19:07 AM
News / Sports

Phillies beat Braves

The Braves set out early Friday to find out whether the National League East was a two-team race, whether the changes they made at the trade deadline would allow them to put the Phillies in the rearview mirror and bear down on the Mets.

Atlanta's revamped lineup got to Philadelphia All-Star lefty Cole Hamels early and, going into the bottom of the first, the Braves were half a game and four runs up on the Phillies in the division race.

But the Phillies showed the resilience that has kept them in the NL Wild Card hunt all season, tying the game before the first inning was done and then winning it, 5-4, at Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies third baseman Wes Helms, who began his career with the Braves, hit a two-run drive off the left foul pole to tie it in the first.

Hamels then pitched six no-hit innings, Jayson Werth scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh, and the Phillies walked away in second place in the NL East.

Tom Gordon pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save since May 1.

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