PHILADELPHIA – Brett Myers took a shutout into the ninth inning, and the slumping Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 Saturday.

Pat Burrell and David Bell homered for the Phillies, who won for just the third time in 13 games.

Atlanta’s Adam LaRoche singled in the second, but Myers (6-4) retired the next 20 batters before Wilson Betemit singled to center leading off the ninth.

Pinch-hitter Julio Franco followed with another single, and Rafael Furcal drew the only walk off Myers to load the bases. Myers lost his shutout bid with a wild pitch, and after Kelly Johnson struck out, Marcus Giles doubled in two runs to chase Myers.

Billy Wagner got the final two outs for his 20th save in 22 chances.

Myers allowed three runs and four hits in 8 1-3 innings. He struck out nine, including seven looking, in his first win since June 4. In his previous two starts, Myers was roughed up for 13 runs and 18 hits in just 7 1-3 innings.

Burrell gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead with a homer to left-center field off starter Horacio Ramirez (7-5) in the second inning. It was his 17th home run of the season.

Bell connected for a three-run shot, his fifth, to chase Ramirez in the fifth inning as Philadelphia opened a 6-0 lead.

Ramirez, who had won his previous four decisions, allowed six runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. Five of the six runs came with two outs. Ramirez walked three and struck out one.

Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead in the third when Jimmy Rollins drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on Jason Michaels’ RBI single.

Myers, who was mired in a 1-for-27 slump, had a two-out RBI single in the fourth to make the score 3-0.

Notes: Burrell leads the major leagues with 22 RBIs against left-handers. He had just 17 RBIs against lefties in 2004. … Both Atlanta (44-37) and Philadelphia (41-40) have reach the halfway point in the season. … Franco is 8-for-21 (.381) as a pinch-hitter this season.

AP-ES-07-02-05 1544EDT

Copy the Story Link