=== Phillies spoil Hampton's no-hit bid and beat Braves ===

Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Jimmy Rollins delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a crucial 3-2 win over the division-rival Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game series at Veterans Stadium.

Placido Polanco provided a game-tying, two-run single in the eighth inning for the Phillies, who pulled within nine games of first-place Atlanta in the NL East. Philadelphia took the opener on Tuesday but lost on Wednesday.

Atlanta starter Mike Hampton carried a no-hitter into the eighth, but gave up two hits before being pulled in favor of John Smoltz. Smoltz (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run and three hits over an inning of work.

After Phillies manager Larry Bowa was ejected in the top of the ninth inning, Philadelphia responded in the bottom half. Pat Burrell led off with a double off the wall in left and was replaced on the basepaths by Jason Michaels. After David Bell flied out, Rollins stroked a single into right field to score Michaels.

The Phillies have won three of their last four games.

Hampton lasted 7 1/3 innings and gave two runs and a pair of hits, while striking out five and walking three. Gary Sheffield belted two home runs for the Braves, who have dropped three of their last four games.

Jose Mesa (2-4) picked up the win. The righthander struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth inning. Vicente Padilla started and lasted the first 7 1/3 frames, giving up two runs and seven hits.

Sheffield belted a solo home run leading off the fourth inning to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. After Sheffield fouled off Padilla's first pitch, he crushed the second offering to deep left-center field for his 20th homer.

Atlanta grabbed a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning courtesy of another solo shot by Sheffield. The rightfielder ripped a homer just inside the foul pole down the left-field line.

Polanco's clutch two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning tied the game for the Phillies. Hampton was cruising until Marlon Byrd got the first hit of the game for Philadelphia with a one-out single to right. Tomas Perez then delivered a pinch-hit single to right, chasing Hampton from the game.

Smoltz took the hill and struck out Bobby Abreu. Polanco was the next batter and lined a 1-2 pitch just over first baseman Robert Fick's glove to bring home both runners.