Ben Revere lifts Phillies to avoid sweep

Ben Revere knocked in the Phillies only run in a 1-0 victory over the Braves Thursday afternoon. Credit: Getty Images

You don’t see many 1-0 games but as Ryne Sandberg noted after the Phillies blanked the Braves, his squad traded 1-0 games with the NL East leaders. Ben Revere came through with a two-out RBI single against Atlanta’s tough lefthander Alex Wood.

“I knew I was going to get a breaking pitch (first) and I went with it and drove in the run,” Revere said.

Defense was critical. Revere made a diving catch and John Mayberry Jr. made a couple of very good plays at first base, a great throw to second to get a lead runner and a back-handed grab to prevent a hit.

“Defense is huge,” Revere said. “That’s the way it was this whole series but particularly last night and today. We had to make plays and we did.”

After being diagnosed with a hernia A.J. Burnett, who pitched seven shutout innings, has shortened his stride.

“Maybe his injury is a blessing in disguise,” Sandberg said. “He looked really good out there.”

Burnett was pleased with his effort.

“I felt really good out there,” Burnett said. “No complaints. I faced a tough lineup out there and we came away with the win.”