PHILLIES NEWS

After a tough 1-0 loss last night the Phils really needed this one and with former Padre Adam Eaton on the mound they got it. Eaton went 5 and 2/3rd innings allowing just 2 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 6. Of course for the offensively inept Padres 2 runs and 7 hits seems like 10 runs and 12 hits. In other words the Phils realized early on that they were going to have to get their own offense going if they were to win this one. From start to finish, that's exactly what they did. Shane Victorino singled, stole second, and scored in the 1st inning. Chase Utley walked and scored on a double by Aaron Rowand, Ryan Howard scored on a fielder's choice, and Rowand scored on a single by Eaton, the pitcher, who helped himself out. Chase Utley crushed a two out two run homer to dead center field in the 7th inning. Finally in the 8th inning, Micheal Bourn replaced Pat Burrell as a pinch runner, and scored on a single by Jimmy Rollins. In all the Phils put up 7 runs on 11 hits. Meanwhile, the Phils bullpen had quite an adventure, pitching into not one, not two, not three, but four jams, in 4 consecutive innings. Even the closer, Antonio Alfonseca, put two on with two out in the 9th. Fortunately, with a little, okay, a lot of luck they managed to pitch out of every single one of them, as Alfonseca got his 7th save of the season, and the Phils won 7-3, to get back to .500 again at 48-48. Unfortunately the Mets won today as well, so the Phils remain 6 games out of first, but life is still beautiful again anyway.