Morgan sharp but struggling bats sink Phils

PHILADELPHIA — Williams Perez again shut down the Phillies on Saturday afternoon, pitching 6 1/3 shutout innings in a 2-0 victory that gave the Braves two consecutive wins for the first time since April 19.

Both starters were effective. Adam Morgan lasted six innings and allowed just one two-run inning, but that was all Atlanta needed to back up Perez’s performance.

Jeff Francoeur and Nick Markakis reached to start the fourth, and Ender Inciarte ripped a double past a diving Odubel Herrera in left-center. An Erick Aybar sac fly brought home the Braves’ second and final run.

All the Phillies mustered against Perez 10 days ago in Atlanta was a Ryan Howard home run. But Perez limited them to even less on Saturday. Three Phillies reached base, two singles and a walk spread over three innings, and none stayed on the basepaths for more than one batter. Howard, meanwhile, struck out two more times and now has four times more strikeouts (17) than hits (four) since the calendar turned to May.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDBirthday gem: Perez celebrated his 25th birthday in fine fashion, retiring each of the first eight batters he faced and allowing just two hits over 6 2/3 innings. He has retired 42 of the 47 Phillies batters faced this season. His latest mastery of Philadelphia was aided by the diving grab third baseman Chase d’Arnaud made to rob Herrera of a hit and end the third inning with a runner on base.

Timely double: Inciarte’s fourth-inning RBI double stands as one of the …

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