Phillies Blank Braves 4-0

Posted 11:41AM on Sunday 20th April 2003 ( 22 years ago )

ATLANTA (AP) -- Vicente Padilla pitched a four-hitter and Mike Hampton struggled in his Atlanta debut as the Philadelphia Phillies stopped the Braves' five-game winning streak with a 4-0 victory Saturday night. Padilla (3-1) picked up his second career shutout, facing only three hitters above the minimum. He allowed four singles, with one of the runners erased on a double play. Gary Sheffield was the only Atlanta hitter to get past first base - and he needed help. The slugger dribbled a grounder about 20 feet in front of home plate, but catcher Mike Lieberthal's off-balance throw sailed past first. Sheffield was given credit for a hit and took second on the throwing error. He moved to third on a grounder, but that was as far as he got. Padilla threw 107 pitches, 82 for strikes. He didn't have more than five balls in any inning. Padilla beat the Braves for the second time in 10 days. On April 9, the right-hander went seven innings in a 16-2 blowout at Veterans Stadium. Hampton was pitching for the first time this season, having started on the disabled list after injuring himself on a treadmill just three days before the opener. The left-hander is trying to bounce back from two dismal seasons in Colorado, where he went 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA after signing a $121 million, eight-year contract before the 2001 season. Last year, Hampton had a 6.15 ERA - the highest in baseball among qualifying starters. The Braves acquired the former 20-game winner in a three-team trade, believing he would return to form away from Coors Field. For now, he's a work in progress. Hampton struggled with his control, walking four (one intentional) and throwing two wild pitches that led to runs. Of his 85 pitches, only 47 were strikes. Hampton gave up all four runs and was bailed out by the Braves' defense in the fifth, his final inning. Hampton breezed through the first two innings, giving up a walk and a single. But a lack of control cost him two runs in the third. With one out, Jimmy Rollins walked and took second on David Bell's single. The runners moved up when Hampton threw a wild pitch, then Rollins trotted home when another pitch went all the way to the screen. Bell took third and scored on Bobby Abreu's deep fly to left. In the fifth, Rollins led off with a walk and came around to score when Bell doubled to the wall in left-center. Mike Lieberthal made it 4-0 with an RBI single. Hampton escaped further trouble with the help his defense. Lieberthal was thrown out at third by Gary Sheffield when he tried to take an extra base on Jim Thome's single. Thome was erased trying to steal second on another strong throw by Henry Blanco. Notes:@ Padilla's other shutout came last May 10 vs. Arizona. That also was his only complete game until Saturday. ... To make room for Hampton on the roster, the Braves optioned RHP Jason Marquis to Triple-A Richmond. ... Braves C Javy Lopez left in the second inning after straining his right hamstring running out a grounder. He was listed as day to day. ... Sheffield's cheap single extended his hitting streak to 16 games.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/4/180099