PHILLIES NEWS

It was a wild night in Cincinnati for the Phils tonight. For 8 and 2/3rd innings it looked like it would be a pretty normal night. Joe Blanton provided his best start of the season thus far, going 7 and 2/3rd innings strong while allowing just 3 runs on 8 hits. Meanwhile Wilson Valdez and and Brian Schneider each smacked 3 run homers, in the 4th inning and the 2nd inning respectively. After Jose Contreras finished off the 8th for Blanton the Phils rode a 6-3 lead into the 9th. There Brad Lidge was this close to closing it out after retiring the first 2 batters he faced, but then all heck broke loose. C.B Buckner just wouldn't give him strike 3 and a walk and a singe later Joey Votto was at the plate with a chance to tie the game with one swing. Lidge made one mistake to Votto, with a slider down the middle and he paid for it dearly as the Reds slugger crushed a game tying 3 run homer.

Fortunately he got out of the inning after that but the damage seemed to have been done. The Phils could easily have laid down at that point and tipped their cap to the Reds. To their credit they did not. Ryan Howard doubled and scored on a double by Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth walked and scored on a single by Ben Francisco and finally Ibanez himself scored on a rare safety squeeze by Valdez to cap a 3 run top of the 10th. So just like that the Phils regained their 3 run lead and this time J.C Romero did not let it get away as retired the side in the bottom of the 10th for the win. It's huge win and confidence booster as they were dealt a huge blow before game with both Placido Polanco and his sore elbow and Chase Utley with a sprained thumb landing on the DL. It's not known how long Placido and Chase will be out but as long they are other Phils like Valdez and Schneider will have to step up and lead the Phils to some wins. Otherwise it could be a long season by the time they get back.