ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves took another wrenching loss in their September swoon, squandering an early two-run lead against Cliff Lee as the playoff-bound Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 4-2 victory Monday night.
Lee (17-8) pitched six strong innings, Jimmy Rollins homered and Raul Ibanez drove in two runs, leading the NL East champions past their division rivals to start the final series of the regular season.
The Braves, who came into the night with a once-comfortable lead in the wild-card race shaved to a single game over St. Louis, lost their third in a row and seventh in the last 10 games. Their September record dropped to 9-16, sending a margin that had been 812 games three weeks ago to the verge of being totally wiped out.
