The Phils finished their series with the Red Sox this afternoon in a wild game. J.A Happ got the start and did just enough to keep the Phils in it, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in a decent 5 and 2/3rd's innings. Meanwhile, after he had pretty much shut them down for4 innings the Phils recovered to touch up Josh Beckett for 7 runs on 11 hits. In the end those 7 runs would be all they needed to claim victory, but it wasn't easy. In the bottom of the the 1st, Jayson Werth actually gave the Phils the early 1-0 lead with an RBI single. That lead lasted all of about 5 minutes until the top of the 2nd, as Rocco Baldelli and Nick Green each slammed solo homers, Jacoby Ellsbury smacked a sac fly, and Jason Bay singled in a run for a 4-1 lead. From there Beckett seemed to be rolling and the Phils looked finished. Then in the bottom of the 5th they finally got to Beckett, scoring one run on a fielder's choice, another on a single by the "Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino and finally 2 more on a clutch RBI double by Ryan Howard, for a 5-4 lead. After venting his frustrations in the dugout, Beckett used them to his advantage as he leadoff the top of the 6th with a solo homer to knot it up at 5. After rolling through the bottom of the 6th, Beckett ran out of bullets in the bottom of the 7th and the normally reliable Red Sox bullpen imploded allowing, 6 runs on 4 hits. First Jimmy Rollins crushed a solo homer. Then Shane Victorino singled, stole second and scored on errror. Next Pedro Feliz slapped a 2 out 2 run double. Then Chris Coste was walked intentionally, Chan Ho Park was walked unintentionally to load the bases and JRoll was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Finally Victorino came up again and worked a bases loaded walk to force in another run and just like that the Phils were stunningly ahead 11-5. George Kottaras(that's the Red Sox backup catcher in case you're wondering) later doubled and scored a meaningless run in the 8th inning which only delayed an inevitable 11-6 Phils win. So the Phils do salvagea game in the series and move to 36-25 overall and back to 4 games up in the NL East. I am not sure but I think after that homer, JRoll might finally have his swing and confidence back. Hopefully it will stay with him now for the rest of the season. It was a little tough to see Happ get a bit roughed up today, especially after what happened to Bastardo last night. He did keep his cool though and he kept the Phils in it long enough for their bats to get going. Essentially that is exactly what the Phils shorthanded staff will have to do for the rest season, just keep it close and let the offense do the rest.
2 comments:
Its good to see a win even if it wasnt a pitching duel. Also it seems that anytime J-Roll gets his swing back it goes right away next game.
-to ph1llysports
yeah hopefully that won't happen this time
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