ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman knew Jerome Williams would give him something to hit on a full count.
Williams wouldn’t want to walk the bases loaded with no outs.
"I was looking backdoor cutter and he just threw a two-seamer out where I was looking," Freeman said. "I was just able to get a good part of the bat on it and get it over the guy’s head."
Freeman hit a two-run double in the eighth inning, Andrelton Simmons made the defensive play of the game in the ninth and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 on Saturday night.
In a matchup of the two worst teams in the majors, the Braves have consecutive victories for the first time since winning three straight over Miami from Aug. 6-8.
The Phillies have dropped five straight and 13 of 16.
Arodys Vizcaino earned his sixth save in seven chances after facing four batters in the ninth.
With Philadelphia’s Andres Blanco on second base, Simmons dived hard to his left to catch Darnell Sweeney’s liner for the second out.
"Even though we’re supposed to play him straight up a little bit, I moved more to the middle," said Simmons, a two-time Gold Glove shortstop. "You’ve got to trust your instincts. You’re going to be wrong sometimes, but it worked out pretty well."
Blanco advanced to third on Vizcaino’s wild pitch over Odubel Herrera’s head, but Herrera took a called third strike to end the game.
Freeman’s opposite-field double off Williams (4-11) went off the wall in left field when Sweeney appeared to misjudge the trajectory of the ball, allowing Nick Markakis to score from second and pinch-runner Pedro Ciriaco from first.
Edwin Jackson (3-3) earned the win after striking out one and facing the minimum in the eighth.
Williams did not retire a batter, allowing two hits and one walk.
Braves starter Ryan Weber allowed two hits, one run and two walks in seven innings. He struck out five.
Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff gave up five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out five.
Philadelphia made it 1-0 in the second when Cody Asche grounded into a double play to score Brian Bogusevic.
"Score one run, get three hits (and) you’re not going to win many games," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "It’s a shame that we’ve had two real good pitching performances the last two days, and they went for nothing."
NO HARM DONE
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez insists OF-3B Adonis Garcia is part of the team’s long-term plans, adding he’s been forgiven for Friday’s baserunning blunder. Garcia was taken out of the game for overrunning second base and getting tagged out after driving in a run.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: OF Aaron Altherr wasn’t in the lineup because of left wrist soreness. Mackanin described the injury as "no big deal, just wear and tear."… Mackanin said 3B Maikel Franco, on the DL since Aug. 18 with a broken left wrist, continues to take batting practice, but there’s no immediate timetable for his return.
Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz, on the DL since Sept. 2 with a virus and rib injury, could return for the three-game series beginning Monday at the New York Mets. He will pitch out of the bullpen.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (6-2) is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts against Atlanta. The team has yet to decide if Nola, the seventh overall draft pick last year, will pitch again this season.
Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (10-7) is 6-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 10 career games and one relief appearance against Philadelphia.
