Pierzynski delivers in 9th, Braves beat Phillies 2-1

It has been that kind of season for Philadelphia, which now has a more secure hold on the worst record in the majors.

Philadelphia Phillies’ Andres Blanco, left, hits a single to score teammate Aaron Altherr in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Sunday, September 20, 2015, in Atlanta.

The Phillies “Magic Number” to clinch the worst record in baseball and the accompanying #1 pick in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft is now at just 8 combined Phils losses and Braves wins. We push them to see if they can get over a hump to get out of their own jams. Starter Ryan Weber was outstanding with a run plated on two hits and a pair of free passes through seven innings.

Arodys Vizcaino earned his sixth save in seven chances after facing four batters in the ninth. Mackanin said afterward it’s been more than a one-day instance with Herrera.

“I still felt good”, he said, “but absolutely [d’Arnaud’s] definitely a better hitter than I am”. That was the difference.

With one out in the ninth, Simmons reached on an infield hit off Luis Garcia (3-6) and advanced to second on third baseman Cody Asche’s errant throw to first. Simmons stole third before Jace Peterson walked.

“Lately he’s been showing his emotions a little bit more and we’re not going to stand for it”, Mackanin said. “We’re just not going to stand for it. He’s got to understand that it doesn’t work that way”. The Phillies, swept for the 13th time this season, need to win seven of their final 12 games to avoid the franchise’s first 100-game losing season since 1961. The right-hander allowed only two hits, both in the second inning that led to Philadelphia’s run. Bethancourt was hurt stretching for the tag. Brian Bogosevic, who entered the game to play left field in the fifth inning, singled and chased Teheran.

“Right now nobody is swinging the bats”, Mackanin said. We will not pout. We will not feel sorry for ourselves. If you want to, then you don’t belong here.

From a production standpoint, Odubel Herrera qualifies as one of very few reasons for optimism in the midst of the Phillies’ disastrous season.

The Atlanta Braves are probably pretty happy that the Philadelphia Phillies are in the same division.

The Braves won all three games in the series by a 2-1 score.

Philadelphia LF Aaron Altherr was back in the lineup after missing Saturday’s game with a sore left wrist. He started in left field and moved to center in the fourth when Herrera was removed from the game.

Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman watches his fly ball to left field… Foltynewicz is on blood thinners.

Following his return from the DL at the end of July, Williams Perez clearly was not himself. Coppolella said the blood clots are not related to the ribs injury. The Phillies continue their road trip with a three-game series against Miami.