ATLANTA (AP) -- Randall Delgado was good.
The problem for the Braves was that Joe Blanton was great.
Delgado threw eight strong innings in the longest start of his career but was overshadowed by Joe Blanton's three-hit shutout as Atlanta lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 on Thursday.
Delgado (2-3) allowed only six hits and two runs with no walks in eight innings. It was a loss, but he lowered his ERA from 6.30 to 5.14 and gave Atlanta's bullpen a rest one day after the team used eight pitchers in its 15-13 win in 11 innings.
"He deserved a better fate than what he got," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He pitched great. He gave us every opportunity to win this game, and we didn't."
Blanton threw his first shutout in five years, Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer and Laynce Nix also homered.
Blanton (3-3) did not walk a batter and had six strikeouts in his third career shutout, his first since June 2, 2007 for Oakland against Minnesota.
The Braves' only hits were singles by Freddie Freeman in the first, David Ross in the fifth and Michael Bourn in the ninth. Martin Prado then lined out into a double play to end the game.
Delgado, 22, had not lasted longer than 6 innings in the first 11 starts of his career in 2011 and this season.
"I felt more comfortable today, maybe because it was a day game," he said.
"I just tried to concentrate. I just followed (catcher) David Ross."
Delgado's control improved after he issued 12 walks in his first four starts this season, including seven in his last two games.
"He threw well," Ross said. "He found the strike zone. I'm proud of him.
"He made a good adjustment from the last outing. It just stinks we didn't score some runs for him."
