Beachy has turned in solid results in each of his four starts since returning from the disabled list on June 22. He has struck out at least six batters and has allowed three or fewer runs in each of those starts. His stayed at 3-1 and his ERA fell a couple of ticks to 3.21.
He landed on the DL after straining his left oblique against the Phillies in May.
Beachy's night was cut short after just 83 pitches, but it wasn't by his own doing. After Nate McLouth ripped a two-out, bases-empty triple past a diving Domonic Brown, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez decided to call on Eric Hinske to pinch-hit for his pitcher. The nine-year veteran flew out to left field.
In the bottom of the second inning, with Raul Ibanez creeping off the first base bag, Beachy stepped on the pitching rubber and promptly stepped off. The impromptu gesture caught the eye of first base umpire Mike Everitt as he loudly called a balk, giving Ibanez second base.
"I was having some trouble seeing [catcher Brian McCann's] pinkie. When he was going fastball with the righty, there was a shadow there," Beachy said. "I kind of just lost my train of thought and paused before I came set to step off."
Seeming a bit rattled, Beachy's next pitch was flared into center by Carlos Ruiz. He then buckled down to strike out Domonic Brown before Ibanez scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Wilson Valdez. Beachy escaped the jam by getting Halladay to look at a 92-m.p.h. fastball.
In the fourth inning, Beachy seemed to be destined for an early exit. Carlos Ruiz drove a one-out, solo home run to right field, and Domonic Brown and Wilson Valdez followed with singles. Halladay then laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring Jimmy Rollins to the plate with two outs and runners on second and third. Beachy settled in and induced the shortstop to fly out to right field, ending his longest frame of the night as seven Phillies came to bat.
Beachy followed up his longest inning with his shortest inning, as he retired the side in order in the fifth. He used his change-up to consecutively strike out John Mayberry and Chase Utley.
In Beachy's two previous starts this season against the Phillies, he fared far worse. The righty earned his lone loss of the season on April 9 in a 10-2 defeat and later yielded three runs in two innings before leaving the game with an oblique strain on May 13.
"These guys did enough to win the game for me, and I just couldn't hold the lead," he said.
Contact staff writer Matt Breen at 215-854-4550 or at mbreen@phillynews.com.
