PHILLIES NEWS

Today's game was rainy, wild and in the end arguably the best of the season. Early on San Fran led 2-0 as Randy Wynn homered in the 1st inning and Bengie Molina homered in the second off Freddy Garcia. The Phils came back in the 4th inning with a solo homer from Chase Utley and two run blast from Aaron Rowand off young fireballer Tim Lincecum, to forge a 3-2 Phils lead. San Fran came right back to score 3 runs in the 5th inning, and 2 in the 6th inning, chasing Garcia from the game after allowing 7 runs on 9 hits while striking out 5. So entering the 7th the Giants and Lincecum had what appeared to be a safe 7-3 lead, but it wasn't so. After allowing a leadoff single to Aaron Rowand and a double to Carlos Ruiz, a tired Lincecum served up a pinch RBI double to Wes Helms to cut the lead to 7-5. Lincecum then struckout Jimmy Rollins and retired Shane Victorino before leaving the game after having thrown 101 pitches, while allowing 6(we'll get to that last one in a moment, just remember that when he left he was still responsible for the runner on base, Wes Helms) runs on 7 hits, and striking out 6. Jack Tarschner then replaced him and promptly made a huge mistake walking Chase Utley in front of Ryan Howard. Howard came up with 2 out, 2 on, and the Phils down 2, and delivered a dramatic 3 run homer, to put the Phils ahead at least momentarily 8-7. Geoff Geary and Ryan Madson somehow combined to get through the 8th inning lead with the 8-7 lead intact. Madson then stayed in to pitch the 9th and well, he didn't quite close it out. He recorded one out, then walked the next two batters and was subsequently pulled from the game in favor of veteran Antonio Alfonseca. Alfonseca didn't fare much better allowing an RBI single to Scott Frandsen, the first batter he faced. Somehow though, he got out of the inning without further damage, as he forced Bengie Molina to ground into a double play. With the score now tied at 8 going into the bottom of the 9th, the stage was set for a storybook finish. Jimmy Rollins struck out again to lead off the inning, then up stepped Shane Victorino, on Victorino hula figurine day, and he delivered a deep blast to left field which kept going until it was outta here! and the Phils had won dramatically 9-8, sending home happy the 100 or so fans stupid enough to still be sitting in their seats in the middle of a rain storm. So Victorino proved to be the hero on his figurine day, and the Phils are back at .500(28-28) and of course, life remains beautiful.