The Phillies opened up that vaunted offensive repetroire which we’ve been looking for all season on the San Francisco Giants and, the next day hit them with a superb pitching effort by starting and winning pitcher Brett Myers (6-3); the result, the Phils leave San Francisco having taken 2 of 3 games in the series.

On Saturday, Cory Lidle (6-7) gave up 5 runs in 5 2/3 innings but pitched just good enough to win thanks to the Phillies offense which overcame a 1st inning 2 run homer by Giants rightfielder Moises Alou (11 HRs, .298 BA) by scoring runs in the 2nd through 7th innings plus 4 more runs in the 9th and never looking back in winning 14-6.

Leftfielder Pat Burrell (20 HRs, 62 RBIs) had a huge night going 4 for 4 including a solo homer in the 2nd inning and a 3 run double in the 4th.  1st baseman Ryan Howard (30 HRs, 76 RBIs, .283 BA) hit his 30th homer, a gargantuan 2 run shot which caromed off a brick wall beyond the deepest part of the ballpark in the 6th as the Phils offense ravaged starting and losing lefthander Noah Lowry (4-6) and the Giant bullpen for 18 hits for the game.  Rollins, Utley, Howard and Rowand each had 2 hits.  David Bell (5 HRs) went 3 for 5 in what was the most solid, or close to the most solid offensive display by the Phils this season.

On Sunday, Brett Myers’ pitching took over as he gave a solid 2 run, 5 hit performance over 7 innings keeping the Phils in the game and tied with the Giants until they broke out with a 4 run 8th inning to clinch the game 6-2.

In the Giant half of the 2nd inning, 2nd baseman Ray Durham (14 HRs, 48 RBIs) solo homered to put the Giants up 1-0.  The Phils tied it in the 4th as centerfielder Aaron Rowand (8 HRs) doubled, driving in rightfielder Bobby Abreu (8 HRs, 60 RBIs, .286 BA).  In the 6th inning, Giant leftfielder Barry Bonds (13 HRs) put the Giants up 2-1 with a solo homer, his 721 career homer.  3rd baseman David Bell (5 HRs) countered with a solo shot for Phils in the 7th to tie the game 2-2.

In the 8th inning, the Phils checked in for 4 runs as Utley led off with a triple.  After Abreu struck out and Burrell was intentionally walked, Howard singled, driving in Utley with Burrell going to 3rd base.  There he was replaced by pinch-runner Shane Victorino who scored on a wild pitch with Howard moving to 2nd base.  Rowand doubled scoring Howard.  David Bell then tripled driving in Rowand.

Phils reliever Rheal Cormier (2-1. 1.09 ERA) and closer Tom Gordon (3-3, 2.11 ERA, S21) closed down the Giants the rest of the way.

2nd baseman Chase Utley (16 HRs, 54 RBIs, .315 BA) extended his hitting streak to a career-best 18 games with a leadoff triple in the 4 run Phillies eighth inning and a double in the 9th as well as 2 hits and an RBI on Saturday.

For a full recap with box scores and play-by-play on Saturday’s and Sunday’s games, click here and here.

The Phils open a 3 game series in San Diego on Monday night as rookie lefthander Cole Hamels (2-4) is opposed by Woody Williams (4-1, 3.08 ERA) for the Padres.

For full coverage of Monday’s games in both leagues; previews, recaps, box scores and play-by-play coverage click here.

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 17th, 2006 at 6:13 pm and is filed under All Time Baseball Highlights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.