ATLANTA — Adam Morgan saved his best start for his hometown fans.
Morgan allowed only one run in seven innings, Mikael Franco homered and the Philadelphia Phillies held off Atlanta 3-2 on Tuesday night to extend the Braves’ home misery.
Morgan (1-0) matched the longest start of his career, allowing four hits and one walk. He won at Turner Field, where he said he regularly sat in the $5 "nosebleed" seats while growing up in nearby Marietta, Georgia.
"It’s awesome to be back here and look up where you used to sit," Morgan said, adding his favourite Braves pitcher was another left-hander, Tom Glavine.
Freddie Freeman led off the ninth with his fifth homer off Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez. Gomez gave up a two-out single to Kelly Johnson before ending the game on Reid Brignac’s fly ball to centre field for his 12th save.
The Phillies’ last seven victories have been by one-run margins. Manager Pete Mackanin said his team "is good and lucky."
That’s fine with Morgan.
"We’ll take them any way we can," he said. "I don’t think we really notice they’re by one run, as long as we win."
Franco hit his seventh homer off Matt Wisler (1-3) to lead off the eighth.
The Braves (7-24) own the majors’ worst record and are 1-16 at Turner Field.
The Braves have the worst home start since the 1913 New York Yankees lost their first 17 decisions at home, a span that included a tie, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Atlanta has lost five straight overall and 11 straight at home since its only win on April 19 against the Dodgers.
The Braves scored in the fourth. Ender Inciarte scored when Tyler Flower grounded into a double play started by shortstop Freddy Galvis’ sliding stop.
Wisler allowed three runs on eight hits while pitching eight innings for the second straight start.
"Today’s a little frustrating," Wisler said. "I think I just got outpitched. That other guy threw really well."
Franco singled and scored from third on a fly ball by Galvis to right field in the fourth. Cesar Hernandez had a run-scoring single in the fifth.
DEKE FOR DP
Some good acting by Inciarte in centre field led to a double play in the sixth.
With Carlos Ruiz on first base following a one-out walk, Galvis hit a fly ball toward right-centre. Inciarte ran toward the ball but had his arms outstretched and a look of concern on his face as if he couldn’t find the ball. Ruiz hesitated between first and second until Inciarte caught the ball and immediately threw to first base for the double play.
"I’ve got to hand it to Inciarte," Mackanin said. "He pretended he didn’t see it and (Ruiz) got closer and closer to second."
BECKHAM RETURNS
Atlanta recalled left-hander Ian Krol from Triple-A Gwinnett and activated infielder Gordon Beckham from the disabled list. Outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo was designated for assignment. Krol pitched a scoreless ninth.
Beckham, who missed 18 games with a strained left hamstring, started at third base. He could see significant playing time while rotating between third base and second base.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: RHP Jim Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the injury is thought to be "nothing major." Johnson is 0-4 with a 7.90 ERA after giving up the decisive two-run homer to Chris Herrmann in the 11th inning of Sunday’s 5-3 loss to Arizona.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jerad Eickhoff will look for his first win since April 13 against San Diego when he makes his second career start against the Braves on Wednesday night. Eickhoff received no decision while allowing no runs in seven innings at Atlanta in the Phillies’ 2-1 victory over the Braves on Sept. 19, 2015.
Braves: RHP Jhoulys Chacin has made five career starts against the Phillies, with his only win coming on June 16, 2013, while with Colorado. He is 1-3 with a 3.23 ERA against the Phillies.
