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ATLANTA -- Cameron Rupp proved to be the unlikely hero on Thursday. The burly catcher stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th inning having made an out in each of his previous four at-bats in this game and eight straight at-bats over two days. With a .228 batting average, he wasn't the most likely suspect for delivering the game-winning hit.
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"You know he's going to hit," Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said.
Mackanin was right. Rupp doubled off reliever Ian Krol to clear the bases and propel the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday at Turner Field.
"That was a big hit by Rupp," Mackanin said. "He came through at a big time."
Rupp split the gap in left field with his eighth double to clear the bases.
The winning rally started when Odubel Herrera hit a pitch from Jason Grilli (1-2) near his ankle off the right-field wall and raced to third with a triple. Andres Blanco was hit by a pitch and Grilli struck out Maikel Franco.
The Braves brought in Krol, who struck out pinch-hitter Darrin Ruf and walked Freddy Galvis to load the bases and set up Rupp's big moment.
The winning pitcher was Andrew Bailey (2-0), who retired the only batter he faced. Jeanmar Gomez pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 13th save.
The win allowed the Phillies to win two games in the three-game series and complete a 5-5 road trip. The Phillies are now 4-0 in extra-inning games.
Philadelphia starter Vincent Velasquez was untouchable through six innings, but came unraveled in the seventh when he allowed four runs.
"Velasquez was cruising and just had a hiccup in the seventh inning," Mackanin said. "It looked like he changed his approach. I would rather he went right after them but this is a learning experience. This is pitching in the big leagues. "
With the bases loaded, Gordon Beckham delivered a three-run double to clear the bases and chase Velasquez, who allowed five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Atlanta pinch-hitter Jeff Francoeur, who had been 0-for-7 in that role, tied the game when he hit the first pitch from reliever David Hernandez into right field for an RBI single.
"Great at-bat by Beckham to score three and great at-bat by Frenchy to tie the game," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Atlanta starter Aaron Blair was knocked out after pitching 3 2/3 innings, the first time he failed to pitch at least five innings since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett. Blair threw 31 pitches in the first inning and wound up allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks.
"Maybe I tried to be too fine at the start of the game and it took off from there," Blair said. "I've got to be more aggressive in the strike zone, throw more strikes and let the defense work."
Herrera was 4-for-4 with a walk and scored two runs. He lifted his average to .339.
"What a day he had," Mackanin said. "He's a potential batting champion somewhere down the road."
The Phillies scored a run the first inning when Herrera led off with a single, stole second base and scored on Maikel Franco's sacrifice fly.
Philadelphia scored three times in the fourth. The first two came on a two-run homer by Galvis, his fourth. The other run came after two outs when three straight batters reached on infield hits. Velasquez beat out an infield grounder and eventually scored when Atlanta second baseman Kelly Johnson tried to flip a grounder to first base, but threw it over the head of Freddie Freeman.
The game started 10 minutes late while officials waited to see if a storm would reach Turner Field.
NOTES: Atlanta C A.J. Pierzynski played in his 2,000th game on Wednesday night. He picked up his 2000th career hit earlier this season. ... Philadelphia returns home after spending 19 of its last 22 days on the road. The Phillies played the most road games (21) and fewest home games (13) in the major leagues. They start a nine-game homestand with a three-game set with Cincinnati on Friday at Citizens Bank Park. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.91) will open against Cincinnati LHP Brandon Finnegan (1-1, 4.15). ... Atlanta will start a 10-game road trip on Friday with a three-game series against Kansas City. RHP Julio Teheran (0-3, 3.48) will oppose Kansas City RHP Edinson Volquez (3-3, 3.89) in the opener.
