Burnett loses 18th, Phillies fall to Braves

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- After yet another loss, A.J. Burnett's future remained in doubt.

Burnett became the first Phillies pitcher to record 18 losses since Hall of Famer Steve Carlton went 13-20 in 1973, and Philadelphia fell to the Atlanta Braves 4-2 Saturday night.

Burnett (8-18) gave up four runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings.

"Obviously a frustrating year," Burnett said. "You come over here and expect to make an impact and you make the wrong impact. I gave them all I had. It's been one of those years where not a lot's gone right."

Burnett leads the majors in losses and walks. He walked three and finished the season with 96.

The 37-year-old Burnett said he would have surgery on an inguinal hernia next week and then begin mulling whether to return in 2015.

"Surgery on hernia is the only future I can tell you about right now," he said. "It's been one of those nagging things I can't wait to take care of."

The Phillies signed Burnett for $16 million last offseason and the right-hander has a player option for $12.75 million if he elects to return in 2015. Burnett said he could walk away from the money if his family wants him to retire and he doesn't have the desire to compete.

"Money ain't everything," he said.

Despite the losses, the durable Burnett threw 213 2-3 innings.

"He goes out and competes," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He did a job all year of going distances and going some innings for us."

Brothers B.J. and Justin Upton each homered and had an outfield assist for the Braves.

Justin Upton also doubled for the Braves, who won for just the third time in 15 games and are 6-18 in a forgettable September.

According to research provided to the teams by the Elias Sports Bureau, the Uptons are the first brothers to homer and record an outfield assist in the same game since 1900.

"That's one feat right there," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That's really something special. They can share that for the rest of their lives. Both guys are so talented on both sides of the ball."

Ryan Howard had three hits with a homer and two RBIs for Philadelphia.

Aaron Harang (12-12) gave up two runs and eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 6 2-3 innings.

Craig Kimbrel pitched out of a jam in the ninth to earn his 46th save in 50 chances.

Marlon Byrd led off with a single and Domonic Brown reached when shortstop Andrelton Simmons misplayed a potential double-play ball. Tony Gwynn Jr.'s sacrifice moved the runners to second and third with one out. Kimbrel struck out Freddy Galvis before walking pinch-hitter Darin Ruf to load the bases.

Ben Revere lined out sharply to Simmons to end the game. Revere flung his helmet into foul territory after Simmons ranged to his right to make the catch.

Justin Upton doubled and scored in the second and B.J. Upton put Atlanta in front 2-0 by leading off the third with a line-drive to the opposite field for his 12th homer of the season.

Justin Upton threw out Chase Utley in the fourth from left field, and center fielder B.J. Upton nailed Wil Nieves trying to score from second in the fifth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: SS Jimmy Rollins missed his 18th straight game with a left hamstring strain.

UP NEXT

Braves: Atlanta will use a bullpen by committee, beginning with James Russell, for Sunday's season finale against the Phillies. Russell is 0-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 21 relief appearances this season.

Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels (9-8, 2.47) faces the Braves for the first time since pitching the first six innings of a combined no-hitter on Sept. 1. Hamels is 2-0 with a 0.45 ERA in three starts against Atlanta this season.

DOUBLE UP

Phillies' Chase Utley hustled to a double in the fourth inning, giving him 36 doubles on the season. That's the most since 2008 when he had 41.

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