Saturday's 11-3 beatdown of the Nats gave Roy Oswalt just his second victory since April 21, and his first since June 12.
He allowed three runs over seven innings on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts. While Oswalt was good, the bats did most of the work. Ryan Howard hit a two-run shot in the first off John Lannan, his 26th of the year. Howard finished with four RBI, Raul Ibanez drove in two while Jimmy Rollins, Hunter Pence, Oswalt and Carlos Ruiz each knocked in a run.
The Phils open a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow at CBP, weather permitting, in what could be a first round post-season preview. The D-Backs are red hot; winners of six straight, they've climbed two games ahead of the struggling San Francisco Giants in the NL West. As I pointed out in my last post, the Phils are very likely to face the winner of that division in the NLDS. Expect it to the Arizona.
Two of the hottest teams in the National League square off in Philly starting tomorrow. Here's the probables:
Tuesday: Roy Halladay (15-4, 2.51) vs. Josh Collmenter (7-7, 3.51)
Halladay is 3-0 lifetime against Arizona. Collementer pitched one scoreless inning in relief against the Phils back in April.
Wednesday: Cliff Lee (12-7, 2.83) vs. Joe Saunders (8-9, 3.76)
Lee took the loss in Arizona back on April 25, allowing four runs while fanning 12 D-Backs. Saunders took the only loss against the Phils back in April, allowing six runs over 5.2 innings.
Thursday: Vance Worley (8-1, 2.85) vs. Ian Kennedy (15-3, 3.12)
Worley is looking to bounce back from one of the worst, if not the worst, starts of his career in LA. Kennedy is having a tremendous year, and pitched a complete game, three hit shutout against the Phils and Lee back on April 25.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Phils vs. NL West in Division Series? Probably
The Phillies should have an interest as to whom comes out on top of the NL West; they're likely to face them in the first round of the post season.
First off, the Phils have the disadvantage of facing a division winner, because they are very likely to secure the Number One seed (they currently hold a ten game lead) and Atlanta is very likely to win the Wild Card (five game lead). Of course, teams from the same division can not face each other in Division series, therefore, the Phils would face the team with the third best record.
The Arizona Diamondbacks currently lead the NL West by just one game over the San Francisco Giants. Who would you rather face?
Well, that's a tough one. The Diamondbacks have been playing great ball, and if they win the division, we can assume they continue playing very well throughout their final 44 games. The Giants have been scuffling, but that pitching rotation can be un-hitable, as well all well know, and the possibility of a five-game series against their pitching is that much more daunting. Lose Game One to Tim Lincecum, and there is less time to bounce back before their backs are against the wall.
The Milwaukee Brewers lead the NL Central, and hold just a two-game lead over Arizona. The possibility remains that the Phils square off against the Brew Crew in Round One, but I doubt it. The Brewers are a tough team, and Arizona and San Fran figure to beat up on each other a bit down the stretch while fighting for the division championship. I see Milwaukee cruising to an NL Central crown, and a date with the Braves in the division series.
Against Arizona this year, the Phils are 1-2. But that series came back in April. Ian Kennedy pitched a complete game shutout in the first game, striking out ten and allowing just three hits. He beat Cliff Lee who struck out twelve. The D-Backs took the series with a 7-5 victory in Game Two, as Daniel Hudson beat Roy Oswalt, who allowed five runs over just three innings. Cole Hamels took the finale for the Phils against Joe Saunders.
The Phils will host the D-Backs for the three game set starting Tuesday, which should shed some insight on how the Phils match-up.
The Phillies are 4-3 against the Giants this season, with three of the four victories coming on this last road trip against a struggling club. Linecum has beaten the Phils twice this season, but Roy Halladay has yet to face the Giants. Obviously the Phils can beat them, but of course, the Giants can get hot at the right time and are the one team that may be able to counter the Phils' tremendous pitching.
Of course, this is all assuming these teams makes the playoffs. The Phils have, by no means, wrapped anything up. But, they've had the best record in MLB for most of the season, and there's no reason to believe they're about to start struggling.
The Phillies are likely to clinch the division far earlier than any other season since their consecutive wins streak started in 2007. If that's the case, hopefully watching other teams battle for playoff spots and positioning will keep us entertained during the last few weeks of September.
First off, the Phils have the disadvantage of facing a division winner, because they are very likely to secure the Number One seed (they currently hold a ten game lead) and Atlanta is very likely to win the Wild Card (five game lead). Of course, teams from the same division can not face each other in Division series, therefore, the Phils would face the team with the third best record.
The Arizona Diamondbacks currently lead the NL West by just one game over the San Francisco Giants. Who would you rather face?
Well, that's a tough one. The Diamondbacks have been playing great ball, and if they win the division, we can assume they continue playing very well throughout their final 44 games. The Giants have been scuffling, but that pitching rotation can be un-hitable, as well all well know, and the possibility of a five-game series against their pitching is that much more daunting. Lose Game One to Tim Lincecum, and there is less time to bounce back before their backs are against the wall.
The Milwaukee Brewers lead the NL Central, and hold just a two-game lead over Arizona. The possibility remains that the Phils square off against the Brew Crew in Round One, but I doubt it. The Brewers are a tough team, and Arizona and San Fran figure to beat up on each other a bit down the stretch while fighting for the division championship. I see Milwaukee cruising to an NL Central crown, and a date with the Braves in the division series.
Against Arizona this year, the Phils are 1-2. But that series came back in April. Ian Kennedy pitched a complete game shutout in the first game, striking out ten and allowing just three hits. He beat Cliff Lee who struck out twelve. The D-Backs took the series with a 7-5 victory in Game Two, as Daniel Hudson beat Roy Oswalt, who allowed five runs over just three innings. Cole Hamels took the finale for the Phils against Joe Saunders.
The Phils will host the D-Backs for the three game set starting Tuesday, which should shed some insight on how the Phils match-up.
The Phillies are 4-3 against the Giants this season, with three of the four victories coming on this last road trip against a struggling club. Linecum has beaten the Phils twice this season, but Roy Halladay has yet to face the Giants. Obviously the Phils can beat them, but of course, the Giants can get hot at the right time and are the one team that may be able to counter the Phils' tremendous pitching.
Of course, this is all assuming these teams makes the playoffs. The Phils have, by no means, wrapped anything up. But, they've had the best record in MLB for most of the season, and there's no reason to believe they're about to start struggling.
The Phillies are likely to clinch the division far earlier than any other season since their consecutive wins streak started in 2007. If that's the case, hopefully watching other teams battle for playoff spots and positioning will keep us entertained during the last few weeks of September.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Phils' Franchise Best Road-Trip and More
Wow, what a road trip! In fact it's the Phils' best road trip of more than seven games ever. Yesterday's 9-8 come from behind victory capped it at 9-1.
The Phillies are 77-40, are running away with the NL East as the Braves trail by 8.5 games and seem to be well on their way to a franchise best regular season.
Vance Worley didn't have his best stuff yesterday, he lasted just four innings and allowed six runs, but you have to give him credit for battling after a brutal first inning in which he allowed five runs. Had Charlie Manuel needed to turn to the 'pen in the first, who knows how the game would have turned out. Worley even chipped in an RBI single in the fourth.
Worley's ERA is rising at a rapid pace. Just four starts ago, his 2.02 ERA thrust him into Rookie of the Year contention. It's now risen to 2.85, which is still spectacular. Hopefully Worley bounces back after the occasional rough outing, like he's done all year.
The Phillies are 12-1 with Hunter Pence, who hit a two-run shot to center yesterday for his third in a Phillies' uniform. They've scored 186 runs since the end of June, which leads the National League. A potent offense combined that their lethal rotation is obviously a tremendous combination. That's why we're being treated to history this year.
After a long flight home and a day off today, the Phils will host Jayson Werth and the Washington Nationals over the weekend. Who would you rather have right now, Werth or Pence?
This year: Werth .226, .332 OBP, .387 SLUG, .719 OPS, 14 HR, 44 RBI, 22 2B, 1 3B, 51 Runs, 14 SB, 118 K, 59 BB.
Pence: .313, .360 OBP, .484 SLUG, .844 OPS, 14 HR, 71 RBI, 29 2B, 3 3B, 55 Runs, 7 SB, 95 K, 34 BB.
Oh, did I mention that Pence is about $700 million cheaper?
Here's a look at the probables:
Friday: Livan Hernandez (6-11, 4.41) vs. Cole Hamels (13-6, 2.53)
Saturday: John Lannan (8-7, 3.56) vs. Roy Oswalt (4-7, 3.84)
Sunday: TBD vs. Roy Halladay (15-4, 2.51)
The Phillies are 77-40, are running away with the NL East as the Braves trail by 8.5 games and seem to be well on their way to a franchise best regular season.
Vance Worley didn't have his best stuff yesterday, he lasted just four innings and allowed six runs, but you have to give him credit for battling after a brutal first inning in which he allowed five runs. Had Charlie Manuel needed to turn to the 'pen in the first, who knows how the game would have turned out. Worley even chipped in an RBI single in the fourth.
Worley's ERA is rising at a rapid pace. Just four starts ago, his 2.02 ERA thrust him into Rookie of the Year contention. It's now risen to 2.85, which is still spectacular. Hopefully Worley bounces back after the occasional rough outing, like he's done all year.
The Phillies are 12-1 with Hunter Pence, who hit a two-run shot to center yesterday for his third in a Phillies' uniform. They've scored 186 runs since the end of June, which leads the National League. A potent offense combined that their lethal rotation is obviously a tremendous combination. That's why we're being treated to history this year.
After a long flight home and a day off today, the Phils will host Jayson Werth and the Washington Nationals over the weekend. Who would you rather have right now, Werth or Pence?
This year: Werth .226, .332 OBP, .387 SLUG, .719 OPS, 14 HR, 44 RBI, 22 2B, 1 3B, 51 Runs, 14 SB, 118 K, 59 BB.
Pence: .313, .360 OBP, .484 SLUG, .844 OPS, 14 HR, 71 RBI, 29 2B, 3 3B, 55 Runs, 7 SB, 95 K, 34 BB.
Oh, did I mention that Pence is about $700 million cheaper?
Here's a look at the probables:
Friday: Livan Hernandez (6-11, 4.41) vs. Cole Hamels (13-6, 2.53)
Saturday: John Lannan (8-7, 3.56) vs. Roy Oswalt (4-7, 3.84)
Sunday: TBD vs. Roy Halladay (15-4, 2.51)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Victorino to be suspended, helps lift Phils over LA
Shane Victorino is the only player to be suspended for his role in Friday's benches clearing incident in San Francisco. MLB handed down a three-game suspension which Victorino has appealed.
Thankfully he did. His solo home run in the top of the ninth in Los Angeles, where he still receives his share of boos for the playoff incident when he took exception to them throwing at his head, helped the Phils hang on for a 5-3 victory and give Roy Halladay his NL leading 15 win.
Victorino should not be the only player targeted by MLB. Ramon Ramirez started the incident by throwing at Victorino. Maybe it was because he was frustrated from getting lit up. Maybe Jimmy Rollins swiping second base irritated them. Even if it was partially because J-Roll ran, it's not like the game was out of hand. Whatever the case, Ramirez started the incident and Shane reacted. He didn't throw any punches. He just walked toward the mound. Eli Whiteside was the biggest antagonizer in the whole scene, jumping up and down in Vic's face as if saying "bring it on," and then tackling Placido Polanco.
Victorino could have stopped though. He did push an umpire off of him and dive back into the pile, which was his biggest offense. Pitchers can throw a baseball at 90+ MPH at a hitter, but how is a hitter supposed to defend himself? If he charged the mound, that's different. But he has to be allowed to say, "you know what, I'm not gonna take that." Whiteside, Ramirez and Victorino should all be suspended an equal amount of time, but that's not the case. Fortunetly, the Phils are running away with the NL East while the Giants look less and less like a play-off team everyday. Victorino's appeal will likely drop the suspension down to two games.
In the meantime, let's hope he keeps producing like he has been while the Phillies get the chance to enjoy his services.
They'll look to win their eighth game in nine tries of their current road-trip tonight with Cliff Lee (11-7, 2.96) on the mound fresh off a complete game shut-out over the Giants. Ted Lilly (7-11, 4.86) takes the ball for the Dodgers.
Hunter Pence has the most AB's on the Phils against Lilly (32) with little success. He's batting .188 with one RBI against him in his career. Ryan Howard is hitting .286 against him with two homers, and Victorino is batting .333 with a home run. It will be interesting to see if John Mayberry Jr. will get his first look at Lilly tonight, but Raul Ibanez has a homer and three RBI in just four at bats against him.
Thankfully he did. His solo home run in the top of the ninth in Los Angeles, where he still receives his share of boos for the playoff incident when he took exception to them throwing at his head, helped the Phils hang on for a 5-3 victory and give Roy Halladay his NL leading 15 win.
Victorino should not be the only player targeted by MLB. Ramon Ramirez started the incident by throwing at Victorino. Maybe it was because he was frustrated from getting lit up. Maybe Jimmy Rollins swiping second base irritated them. Even if it was partially because J-Roll ran, it's not like the game was out of hand. Whatever the case, Ramirez started the incident and Shane reacted. He didn't throw any punches. He just walked toward the mound. Eli Whiteside was the biggest antagonizer in the whole scene, jumping up and down in Vic's face as if saying "bring it on," and then tackling Placido Polanco.
Victorino could have stopped though. He did push an umpire off of him and dive back into the pile, which was his biggest offense. Pitchers can throw a baseball at 90+ MPH at a hitter, but how is a hitter supposed to defend himself? If he charged the mound, that's different. But he has to be allowed to say, "you know what, I'm not gonna take that." Whiteside, Ramirez and Victorino should all be suspended an equal amount of time, but that's not the case. Fortunetly, the Phils are running away with the NL East while the Giants look less and less like a play-off team everyday. Victorino's appeal will likely drop the suspension down to two games.
In the meantime, let's hope he keeps producing like he has been while the Phillies get the chance to enjoy his services.
They'll look to win their eighth game in nine tries of their current road-trip tonight with Cliff Lee (11-7, 2.96) on the mound fresh off a complete game shut-out over the Giants. Ted Lilly (7-11, 4.86) takes the ball for the Dodgers.
Hunter Pence has the most AB's on the Phils against Lilly (32) with little success. He's batting .188 with one RBI against him in his career. Ryan Howard is hitting .286 against him with two homers, and Victorino is batting .333 with a home run. It will be interesting to see if John Mayberry Jr. will get his first look at Lilly tonight, but Raul Ibanez has a homer and three RBI in just four at bats against him.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Phils sweep 2nd straight
The Phillies continue to roll. In face, they haven't lost a game since Hunter Pence has been penciled into the five hole.
The Phils completed their second consecutive sweep yesterday, taking all three from the Rockies in Colorado. A day after Kyle Kendrick left the rotation in style, by tossing eight shut-out innings, and Ryan Howard's two home runs powered them to victory, Roy Halladay was on the mound for the finale.
Doc didn't fair quite as well as Kendrick (yes, that sentence just happened. I can't believe it either). Halladay did not have his best stuff in Denver yesterday, but he grinded out his 14th victory of the season. He ended up allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits, one walk and seven strikeouts over seven innings.
The Phils' bats supported Doc in the 8-6 victory, but it didn't exactly start out that way.
Jason Hammell, who dropped to 6-11 by allowing six runs over five innings, walked the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the first. The Phils had an opportunity to give Doc a major cushion, but managed only one run. Howard stuck out, Pence knocked in a run with a sac fly and Raul Ibanez stuck out to end the frame.
Then, a strange bottom of the first allowed the Rockies to briefly capture the lead. Eric Young led-off with a bunt base hit, that actually lofted over Howard's head and dropped into shallow right field as he charged in because of the bunt attempt. After stealing second with Dexter Fowler at the plate, Fowler hit a routine grounder to first. Howard dropped the ball twice, and then flipped it over Halladay's head at first, allowing Young to score and Fowler to advance to second. Howard was correctly charged with a double error on the play, and Colorado led 2-1 after one.
It didn't last long though. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino each tacked on an RBI single in the second before Howard made up for his brutal start with a two-run double to center. Howard later homered in the sixth and finished 2-for-4 with a walk and four RBI. The Phils would never trail again after the second, but Colorado battled and hung around the entire game.
Brad Lidge came on in the ninth and picked up his first save of the season, and 100th with the Phils, in a flawless inning.
The Phils head to San Francisco looking for some revenge from the team that knocked them out of last year's playoffs and ended their series winning streak at nine just last week. Here's a look at the probables:
Tonight: Cliff Lee (10-7, 3.14) vs. Madison Bumgarner (6-10, 3.80)
Friday: Vance Worley (7-1, 2.33) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (4-5, 3.81)
Saturday: Cole Hamels (12-6, 2.62) vs. Matt Cain (9-7, 3.10)
Sunday: Roy Oswalt (4-6, 3.79) vs. Tim Lincecum (9-9, 2.77)
The Phils completed their second consecutive sweep yesterday, taking all three from the Rockies in Colorado. A day after Kyle Kendrick left the rotation in style, by tossing eight shut-out innings, and Ryan Howard's two home runs powered them to victory, Roy Halladay was on the mound for the finale.
Doc didn't fair quite as well as Kendrick (yes, that sentence just happened. I can't believe it either). Halladay did not have his best stuff in Denver yesterday, but he grinded out his 14th victory of the season. He ended up allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits, one walk and seven strikeouts over seven innings.
The Phils' bats supported Doc in the 8-6 victory, but it didn't exactly start out that way.
Jason Hammell, who dropped to 6-11 by allowing six runs over five innings, walked the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the first. The Phils had an opportunity to give Doc a major cushion, but managed only one run. Howard stuck out, Pence knocked in a run with a sac fly and Raul Ibanez stuck out to end the frame.
Then, a strange bottom of the first allowed the Rockies to briefly capture the lead. Eric Young led-off with a bunt base hit, that actually lofted over Howard's head and dropped into shallow right field as he charged in because of the bunt attempt. After stealing second with Dexter Fowler at the plate, Fowler hit a routine grounder to first. Howard dropped the ball twice, and then flipped it over Halladay's head at first, allowing Young to score and Fowler to advance to second. Howard was correctly charged with a double error on the play, and Colorado led 2-1 after one.
It didn't last long though. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino each tacked on an RBI single in the second before Howard made up for his brutal start with a two-run double to center. Howard later homered in the sixth and finished 2-for-4 with a walk and four RBI. The Phils would never trail again after the second, but Colorado battled and hung around the entire game.
Brad Lidge came on in the ninth and picked up his first save of the season, and 100th with the Phils, in a flawless inning.
The Phils head to San Francisco looking for some revenge from the team that knocked them out of last year's playoffs and ended their series winning streak at nine just last week. Here's a look at the probables:
Tonight: Cliff Lee (10-7, 3.14) vs. Madison Bumgarner (6-10, 3.80)
Friday: Vance Worley (7-1, 2.33) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (4-5, 3.81)
Saturday: Cole Hamels (12-6, 2.62) vs. Matt Cain (9-7, 3.10)
Sunday: Roy Oswalt (4-6, 3.79) vs. Tim Lincecum (9-9, 2.77)
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Different day, different heros for Phils
Another day, more late inning heroics, another victory. I'd say things are going pretty well.
Last night's game had it all: a pitching duel, clutching hitting, home runs, late inning drama, long hard fought at bats and a benches clearing brawl. OK, I made that last part up, but that's just about the only excitement missing from last night's series opener in Colorado.
The Phillies were down to their last strike in the top of the ninth with Rockies' closer Huston Street on the mound. who'd converted 28 of 30 saves. John Mayberry Jr. came to the plate to pinch hit representing the tying run with a runner aboard, trailing 3-1.
Mayberry fell behind early, flailing wildly at a nasty slider that ran down and off the plate. But then Mayberry shortened his stroke, laying off sliders off the plate and fouling off strikes. He knew Street wasn't going to throw him a fastball. He just needed to make a mistake. He did. Mayberry ripped a game tying, pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, capping a hard fought at bat. The Phillies' bench knew it right away, celebrating with the crack of the bat. Utley's reaction is about the most emotion Philadelphia has ever seen out of him.
Jimmy Rollins followed, crushing a ball to right-center that looked like a go-ahead home run, only to watch it settle into Dexter Fowler's glove at the wall.
Rex Brothers replaced Street in the top of the tenth to a rude greeting. No, not from Rockies' fans. Shane Victorino lead-off and crushed a high fast ball to left for a go-ahead run, and the Phils would remarkably take the game 4-3; their first lead of the game.
Both starters were tremendous. Cole Hamels was about to take another tough luck loss, after allowing two runs on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts over six innings. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh with the tying run in scoring position, but Ross Gload grounded out.
Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin was even better, once again stifling the Phils by allowing just one run on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts over 7.1 innings. In 14.1 innings against the Phils this year, he's allowed just two runs and struck out eleven.
Michael Stutes surrendered a home run to the first batter he faced in the seventh, but settled in to pitch two solid innings.
Raul Ibanez knocked in the Phils' other run in the seventh with an RBI double that just missed clearing the fence, scoring Hunter Pence.
Kyle Kendrick (5-5, 3.52) takes the ball tonight in what is likely his last start for some time with Roy Oswalt expected back over the weekend. The Rockies will send Aaron Cook (2-5 5.05) to oppose him.
Kendrick started against Colorado back on May 19 and got lit up for five runs over three innings, taking the loss.
Last night's game had it all: a pitching duel, clutching hitting, home runs, late inning drama, long hard fought at bats and a benches clearing brawl. OK, I made that last part up, but that's just about the only excitement missing from last night's series opener in Colorado.
The Phillies were down to their last strike in the top of the ninth with Rockies' closer Huston Street on the mound. who'd converted 28 of 30 saves. John Mayberry Jr. came to the plate to pinch hit representing the tying run with a runner aboard, trailing 3-1.
Mayberry fell behind early, flailing wildly at a nasty slider that ran down and off the plate. But then Mayberry shortened his stroke, laying off sliders off the plate and fouling off strikes. He knew Street wasn't going to throw him a fastball. He just needed to make a mistake. He did. Mayberry ripped a game tying, pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, capping a hard fought at bat. The Phillies' bench knew it right away, celebrating with the crack of the bat. Utley's reaction is about the most emotion Philadelphia has ever seen out of him.
Jimmy Rollins followed, crushing a ball to right-center that looked like a go-ahead home run, only to watch it settle into Dexter Fowler's glove at the wall.
Rex Brothers replaced Street in the top of the tenth to a rude greeting. No, not from Rockies' fans. Shane Victorino lead-off and crushed a high fast ball to left for a go-ahead run, and the Phils would remarkably take the game 4-3; their first lead of the game.
Both starters were tremendous. Cole Hamels was about to take another tough luck loss, after allowing two runs on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts over six innings. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh with the tying run in scoring position, but Ross Gload grounded out.
Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin was even better, once again stifling the Phils by allowing just one run on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts over 7.1 innings. In 14.1 innings against the Phils this year, he's allowed just two runs and struck out eleven.
Michael Stutes surrendered a home run to the first batter he faced in the seventh, but settled in to pitch two solid innings.
Raul Ibanez knocked in the Phils' other run in the seventh with an RBI double that just missed clearing the fence, scoring Hunter Pence.
Kyle Kendrick (5-5, 3.52) takes the ball tonight in what is likely his last start for some time with Roy Oswalt expected back over the weekend. The Rockies will send Aaron Cook (2-5 5.05) to oppose him.
Kendrick started against Colorado back on May 19 and got lit up for five runs over three innings, taking the loss.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Rauuuuuuul plays hero for Phils
What a day for Raul Ibanez. The veteran has been heating up as of late, culminating with a terrific performance in yesterday's finale to give the Phils a series sweep.
After he'd already hit a solo shot to dead center-field in the second inning, Ibanez stepped to the dish in the bottom of the eighth inning with a runner aboard, two outs and the Phillies trailing 5-3.
Vance Worley had his worst start, in fact his only start that wasn't tremendous, since May 29 against the Mets.
Ryan Howard had just made a base running blunder. After a one-out double, Hunter Pence chopped a ball toward the hole in left. Shortstop Brandon Wood made a nice play to field the ball, but had no play on Pence for what would have been an infield single. The only problem: Howard tried to advance to third on a ball hit to his right; a big no-no. It was an aggressive play, trying to get to third with less than two-out, but it ended up hurting the Phils.
That is until Ibanez crushed a high fastball from Jose Veras into the left-field stands for a game tying, two-run home run, his second long ball of the day.
The game would go extra innings after Chase Utley failed to bring home the winning run from second in the bottom of the ninth.
In the bottom of the tenth, after Howard struck out, Pence lined a ball into the left-field corner for a one-out double. Ibanez stepped up and capped his huge day with a walk-off double into right-field, scoring an ecstatic Pence from second.
Antonio Bastardo picked up the win, he's now 4-0 with a 1.34 ERA. Ibanez's 3-for-5 day gives him 16 homers on the year and 59 RBI.
Worley lasted six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, no walks and seven strikeouts. He was dominant early, but got into some trouble in the middle innings. Still, Worley didn't pitch all that badly. His ERA rose to 2.33.
Brad Lidge allowed a run in one inning of work on one hit, one walk and one strikeout.
The Phillies will open up a series in Denver tonight against the Rockies. Colorado just traded ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians, and star out-fielder Carlos Gonzalez is currently on the disabled list. Cole Hamels (12-6, 2.61) will be on the mound for the Phils against Jhoulys Chacin (8-8, 3.50). The Phils faced Chacin on May 19, taking the loss and mustering just one run on four hits and one walk, with nine strikeouts against him. Game time is 8:40.
After he'd already hit a solo shot to dead center-field in the second inning, Ibanez stepped to the dish in the bottom of the eighth inning with a runner aboard, two outs and the Phillies trailing 5-3.
Vance Worley had his worst start, in fact his only start that wasn't tremendous, since May 29 against the Mets.
Ryan Howard had just made a base running blunder. After a one-out double, Hunter Pence chopped a ball toward the hole in left. Shortstop Brandon Wood made a nice play to field the ball, but had no play on Pence for what would have been an infield single. The only problem: Howard tried to advance to third on a ball hit to his right; a big no-no. It was an aggressive play, trying to get to third with less than two-out, but it ended up hurting the Phils.
That is until Ibanez crushed a high fastball from Jose Veras into the left-field stands for a game tying, two-run home run, his second long ball of the day.
The game would go extra innings after Chase Utley failed to bring home the winning run from second in the bottom of the ninth.
In the bottom of the tenth, after Howard struck out, Pence lined a ball into the left-field corner for a one-out double. Ibanez stepped up and capped his huge day with a walk-off double into right-field, scoring an ecstatic Pence from second.
Antonio Bastardo picked up the win, he's now 4-0 with a 1.34 ERA. Ibanez's 3-for-5 day gives him 16 homers on the year and 59 RBI.
Worley lasted six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, no walks and seven strikeouts. He was dominant early, but got into some trouble in the middle innings. Still, Worley didn't pitch all that badly. His ERA rose to 2.33.
Brad Lidge allowed a run in one inning of work on one hit, one walk and one strikeout.
The Phillies will open up a series in Denver tonight against the Rockies. Colorado just traded ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians, and star out-fielder Carlos Gonzalez is currently on the disabled list. Cole Hamels (12-6, 2.61) will be on the mound for the Phils against Jhoulys Chacin (8-8, 3.50). The Phils faced Chacin on May 19, taking the loss and mustering just one run on four hits and one walk, with nine strikeouts against him. Game time is 8:40.
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