Howardwerth

Kevin McAlpin covers the Phillies for 97.5 The Fanatic.  You can follow him on Twitter (@KevinMcAlpin)

It's hard to classify a game in early July as a "must win."  However, tonight's series finale against the Braves certainly comes with slightly higher stakes.  A win would pull the Phillies within four games of first.  A loss would drop them further from the top of the standings than they've been all year long.  Last night, the Phillies offense mustered three runs on just three hits.  In the seventh, Ryan Howard's RBI triple off the left field wall tied the game at 3-3.  After Jayson Werth struck out, Ben Francisco flew out to shallow center and Wilson Valdez grounded out to strand Howard at third.  "When you've got a man on third and nobody out, you've got to score, period" said a frustrated Charlie Manuel.  "First inning, second inning, third inning, fourth inning, doesn't matter.  Ninth inning, fifteenth inning, twentieth inning, doesn't matter, you've got to score."

Tonight, Jamie Moyer (9-7, 4.13) looks to improve to 3-0 against Atlanta this season.  On May 7, Moyer tossed a complete game two-hitter against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park.  Friday at Pittsburgh, Moyer was a hard-luck loser as he gave up just two runs over six innings as the Phils were shutout 2-0.  Despite the loss, Moyer struck out a season-high eight batters, including four of the last eight he faced.  The Braves hand the ball to Kris Medlen (5-1, 3.01) who hasn't given up more than four earned runs in a start all season.  In addition, since joining the Braves rotation, Medlen is a perfect 4-0 with an ERA just north of 3 in 10 starts.

With a four-game series against the first place Reds looming on deck for the Phillies, a series win against the Braves could build confidence heading in to the final series before the All Star break.  "Hopefully Jamie can pitch like he has been" Manuel said Tuesday.  "We've got to try and put some runs on the board."