Phillies at Braves: May 1st to May 3rd

Turner Field - Atlanta, GA
Tuesday and Wednesday 7:10, Thursday 12:10

Phillies 11-12, 4th Place in the N.L. East, 3 1/2 games behind the Nationals
Braves 14-9, 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 1/2 game behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.73), Roy Halladay (3-2, 1.95), Joe Blanton (2-3, 3.81)
Braves Probables:  Brandon Beachy (2-1, 1.05), Tommy Hanson (3-2, 3.00), Randall Delgado (2-2, 6.30)

At the Ballpark:  Tonight is a "2 for $30 Tuesday" which I'm assuming means discounted tickets are available . . . for $15 each.  And Wednesday night is something the Braves are calling "Networking Night."  From the official description from their website: "Come out, mix and mingle with other Atlanta area professionals while enjoying some great Braves baseball! No resumés please, but business cards are welcome."  (Booooring.  I'll take a Dollar Dog Night over that any time.)

Phillies Leaders

Average:  Hunter Pence - .253

Runs:  Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino - 12

Home Runs:  Shane Victorino - 4

RBIs:  Hunter Pence - 12

Stolen Bases:  Shane Victorino - 7

Wins:  Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels - 3

ERA:  Roy Halladay - 1.95

Strikeouts:  Vance Worley - 32

Saves:  Jonathan Papelbon - 8

1979 Topps #177 and #39

1979 Topps Flashback:  The two players featured here spent a considerable amount of their careers playing for the Braves, but they were never teammates.  Ron Reed played with the Braves from 1966 through May 1975 when he was traded to the Cardinals.  The Phillies picked him up from the Cardinals following the 1975 season, and he'd bolster the team's bullpen as they won three straight division titles beginning in 1976 and during the team's World Championship run in 1980.  Reed spent eight seasons with the Phillies, saving 90 games.

Dale Murphy made his Braves debut on September 13, 1976 and he'd spend the next 14 seasons as the top offensive threat within the Braves line-up.  Much to my delight, the Phillies acquired him from the Braves in August 1990 as part of a five-player deal.  In his three seasons with the Phils, Murphy hit 27 home runs while driving in 116, but his average was a disappointing .249.  Murphy now has his own blog, and you can follow him on Twitter.