Phillips hit a tying triple with two out in the fifth inning and scored the tiebreaking run on shortstop Alex Gonzalez's error, helping the Reds beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in the rubber game of the weekend series.
Ramon Hernandez was on first when Phillips lifted a fly ball down the right-field line that eluded a diving Jason Heyward and bounced into the corner. Orlando Cabrera followed with a routine grounder to Gonzalez, but the former Reds infielder dropped the ball, and Phillips scored while Cabrera easily beat the throw to first.
"I thought Heyward was going to catch it," Phillips said. "I said, 'Watch him catch it. Watch him catch hit. Oh, snap, it's time to run.' I knew if he didn't catch it, it would be a triple."
The NL East-leading Braves have lost three of four and went 3-6 on their 10-day trip, earning one win at each stop. They wasted a solid outing by Tommy Hanson (8-8), who allowed an earned run and five hits in 7q innings.
Hanson struck out five and walked one, dropping to 0-3 with a 2.55 ERA in his past four starts
The Reds have won three of four and open a six-game trip today in Pittsburgh. They remained a half-game behind NL Central-leading St. Louis, which beat Pittsburgh 9-1.
"We haven't had a 2-1 victory here in a long, long time," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said.
Rick Ankiel started in center field and went 0 for 3 with a walk in his first game with Atlanta.
The Braves acquired Ankiel and reliever Kyle Farnsworth from Kansas City on Saturday. Farnsworth also was in uniform but didn't pitch.
Edinson Volquez was wild in five effective innings for Cincinnati, walking five and hitting a batter but yielding just one run.
The right-hander also struck out seven and allowed three hits in his fourth major league start since undergoing elbow surgery last August.
"I think it's coming," Volquez said. "I feel good. This is part of the process. In my mind, I feel good. I have to put everything together. Command is the last step."
