Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Cody Asche hit a two-run homer in the seventh to back eight dominant innings from Cliff Lee, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game series.

Lee (12-6) gave up one run on two hits while striking out 10 for the Phillies, who snapped a two-game skid.

"It was a well-rounded baseball game," Lee said. "It really came down to one swing on either side."

Andrelton Simmons hit a homer for the Braves, who have dropped two straight since a two-game winning streak.

Mike Minor (13-6) took the hard-luck loss after giving up two runs on four hits while striking out nine over seven innings. The left-hander suffered his first loss since July 21.

"I threw a lot of quality pitches tonight, it just came at the wrong time for us and the right time for them," Minor said.

The Braves took a 1-0 lead on Simmons' homer to left in the third.

Philadelphia's first hit of the game didn't come until the fourth. Jimmy Rollins hit a bloop single to right but was thrown out while trying to stretch it into a double.

Minor continued to cruise on the mound until the seventh. Darin Ruf hit a two- out single to left and scored on Asche's homer to right-center field.

Meanwhile, Lee retired the final 13 batters he faced in order. Jonathan Papelbon worked around a two-out single in the ninth to record his 25th save of the season.