ATLANTA - The last pitch Jeremy Hellickson threw - perhaps of his Phillies career - was a 90-mph fastball that Braves catcher Anthony Recker lashed to left for a run-scoring single. As Pete Mackanin arrived to snag the ball from Hellickson in the sixth inning of a 9-5 Phillies win, there was a sense that Hellickson had done his job - on many levels.
Now, the Phillies wait.
Hellickson did not pitch his best game Saturday against the worst team in baseball. His nine-start streak of pitching at least six innings ended. Atlanta rapped nine hits, eight of which were singles.