By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Alex Wood tosses complete game but Braves fall 1-0 to Phillies
0418 Braves1
Atlanta Braves' Jason Heyward slides safe into third as Philadelphia Phillies' Jayson Nix waits for the ball in the third inning of a game on Thursday in Philadelphia. - photo by H. Rumph, Jr.

PHILADELPHIA— After his first career complete game, Alex Wood was upset with his performance at the plate.

Ben Revere's RBI single with two outs in the eighth inning lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday afternoon.

A.J. Burnett tossed three-hit ball over seven innings to outpitch Wood (2-2). Atlanta's Julio Teheran beat Cliff Lee 1-0 less than 24 hours earlier.

Wood became the 10th Braves starter in the first 15 games this year to allow one run or none. The lefty gave up eight hits and fanned seven, going the distance for the first time in 15 career starts.

But Wood failed to execute a sacrifice bunt with a runner on second and no outs in the eighth.

"I think I lost the game for us in the eighth inning by not getting the bunt down," Wood said. "That's inexcusable. I thought I threw the ball well."

Still, Wood was excellent on the mound.

"You can't ask for anything more out of him," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He did a terrific job. A.J. was pretty good, too."

Dominic Brown led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. He advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored on Revere's hit up the middle.

"He probably didn't want to hang a curveball to Revere," Gonzalez said.

Antonio Bastardo (2-1) worked the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon finished off the four-hitter with a perfect ninth for his fourth save in five tries.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg successfully challenged a call in the fifth inning when Andrelton Simmons was ruled out trying to steal second base. Simmons overslid the bag on a headfirst dive, and reached back to touch the base as shortstop Jimmy Rollins lunged to tag him. The replay showed Rollins tagged Simmons before he got his hand in safely.

Burnett struck out five in his first start since learning he'll need surgery for an inguinal hernia. The right-hander received a cortisone injection on Monday and plans to wait until the offseason to have an operation.

The Braves wasted an opportunity after Gerald Laird led off the eighth with a double to left-center off Bastardo. Wood struck out trying to sacrifice, Jason Heyward lined out to right and B.J. Upton popped out.

"Wood could've helped himself by getting the bunt down," Gonzalez said. "We'll be working with him on that."

The NL East-leading Braves took two of three in a rain-shortened series. Tuesday night's game was rained out and will be made up in late June.

"It was only three games, but we won the series," Gonzalez said. "Now we'll go to New York and try to win that series."

NOTES: Wood is 1-1 with a 2.86 ERA in eight games vs. Philadelphia, including three starts. ... Braves starters have a 1.58 ERA. ... In Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Braves, Lee became the first pitcher to lose two games in which he allowed one run or less and struck out 13 or more. The other time also was against Atlanta. ... The Braves open a three-game series at the New York Mets on Friday night. Aaron Harang (2-1, 0.96) takes the mound for Atlanta.

Regional events