ATLANTA, May 3 (UPI) -- Joe Blanton pitched a three-hit shutout Thursday in lifting the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Blanton (3-3) picked up his third career shutout but the first since 2007 when he was with the Oakland Athletics. He threw just 88 pitches, 67 of which were strikes. Blanton struck out six and didn't walk a batter.
All three hits against him were singles. Freddie Freeman had a two-out single in the first and Blanton then retired 12 consecutive batters. David Ross ended that streak with a two-out single in the fifth but then Blanton got the next 11 out.
Michael Bourne's one-out single in the ninth stopped that string before Martin Prado hit into a double play to end the game.
Atlanta starter Randall Delgado (2-3) allowed just two runs and six hits in taking the loss. He also didn't walk a batter while striking out five.
Consecutive singles by Jimmy Rollins and Juan Pierre and a sacrifice fly by Shane Victorino put the Phillies up 1-0 in the first. Laynce Nix chipped in a solo home run -- his second of the year -- in the seventh and Victorino added a two-run homer in the ninth. It was his fifth home run of the season.
