Braves' Hampton wins again

PHILADELPHIA - This is not like any cavalry you ever saw ride to the rescue in a John Wayne western.

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The two players who delivered salvation to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday afternoon could fit on ponies.

But at this point, with the heart of the lineup managing only singles, the Braves are prepared to welcome all comers, especially when they deliver two home runs, as Charles Thomas did in support of Mike Hampton's eight solid innings in a 4-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before a packed house at Citizens Bank Park.

Thomas was joined in the long ball fest by leadoff man Rafael Furcal, who now has four home runs in the past three games.

"Home runs are a huge surprise," said the six-foot, 190-pound Thomas, who knocked in three runs and received a shaving-cream pie in the face from reliever Juan Cruz during a TV interview afterward.

"I never try to swing for the fences. When they come off, they're great, but it's not my game. That's luck."

Fifteen hours after Friday night's disappointing loss, the Braves regrouped and won for the 11th time in 14 games, closing to within two games of the National League East-leading Phillies.

"That was as much-needed as any game this season," said John Smoltz, who pitched a perfect ninth.

"These games can make you better or make you fall apart. One more game to go to make a bittersweet first half."

In his previous three starts, Hampton gave rise to speculation that he would be replaced in the rotation.

But the 31-year-old left-hander put that talk to rest by allowing five hits and two walks to the Phillies, who advanced only three runners beyond first base.

"Today was one of those games when he just threw the ball to the right spot," Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu said. "He moved the ball corner to corner and threw pretty nice breaking balls. When we hit the ball and hit it good, we hit it right at somebody. It was one of those kind of games. You can't do anything about it."

Hampton had not beaten the Phillies since September 2000 when he was with the New York Mets.

"I'm not where I want to be, but I know I can't get there overnight," said Hampton, who improved to 4-8 and has now won back-to-back starts for the first time this season. "I just keep telling myself it's a long season, to keep plugging along, and the numbers will be there at the end."

Reach Bill Zack at bzack30143@aol.com.