Rough 7th Inning Haunts Phillies in Loss to Braves

Phillies starter David Buchanan was probably one out away from earning his first win of the 2015 season. But then over the course of two plate appearances his once impressive start fizzled and the bullpen couldn’t bail him out during a three-run seventh inning that propelled the Atlanta Braves to a 5-2 win Saturday night. Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons opened the inning with a solo home run that cut in half a 2-0 lead the Phillies had clung to at that point thanks to a Ryan Howard homer in the fourth, but after recording the next two outs Buchanan surrendered consecutive walks to Johnny Gomes and Kelly Johnson before being replaced by Jake Diekman, who couldn’t hold the inherited runners when Chris Johnson singled and Eric Young Jr. doubled to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. Diekman was tagged for two more in the eighth and officially took a blown save while Buchanan was hit with the loss. No Phillie would get more than one hit.