A decent pitching effort over 5 2/3 innings by rookie lefthanded starter Cole Hamels (2-4) went for naught as the Phils bullpen blew a 6-3 lead as San Diego scored 4 runs in the 7th inning and 1 more in the to emerge with an 8-6 victory.

The Phils scored first with a run in the 1st inning on an RBI single by leftfielder Pat Burrell (20 HRs, 62 RBIs).   The Padres got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo blast by centerfielder Mike Cameron (10 HRs).

San Diego took the lead 2-1 in the 2nd inning on an RBI single by starting pitcher Woody Williams (4-1, 3.08 ERA). 

The score remained 2-1 until the Phils score 3 runs in the 6th inning on Pat Burrell’s RBI sacrifice fly and 1st baseman Ryan Howard’s (31 HRs, 78 RBIs, .286 BA) 31st homer driving in Burrell.  The Phils to a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 6th.  The Padres got one back on a solo blast by 1st baseman Adrian Gonzalez (18 HRs, 48 RBIs, .281 BA).  This was the first of four RBIs to Gonzalez’s credit for the game.  All of these runs were charged to San Diego starter Williams who retired after the 6th inning.  4-3 Phillies after 6 innings.

The Phils scored 2 in the top of the 7th inning off of San Diego’s bullpen as pinch hitter Abraham Nunez drove in a run on a triple and shortstop Jimmy Rollins (9 HRs) drove Nunez in on a single.  6-3 Phillies; the San Diego bullpen shut down the Phils the rest of the way.

San Diego scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th on catcher Mike Piazza’s (13 HRs, 42 RBIs, .290 BA) RBI single and a 3 run homer by Gonzalez, his 2nd homer of the game.  San Diego completed it’s scoring in the 8th inning on rightfielder Brian Giles’ (6 HRs, 48 RBIs, .280 BA) RBI single.

San Diego reliever Alan Embree (3-2) who had just come off of the 15 day disabled list earned the win and closer Trevor Hoffman (0-1, 1.77 ERA, S25)  was credited with the save.  Phils reliever Rheal Cormier (2-2, 1.09 ERA) was nailed with the loss. 

It is hard for me to understand how reliever Ryan Franklin (1-4) was credited with a “hold” when he let in the Padres’ 3 tying runs in the 7th inning.

Phillies 2nd baseman Chase Utley (16 HRs, 54 RBIs, .316 BA) extended his hitting streak to a career-best 19 games.

For a full recap with box scores and play-by-play on this game, click here.

The Phils hope to get even in this series on Tuesday as Ryan Madison (8-6) goes against San Diego’s Clay Hensley (5-7).

For full coverage of Tuesdays’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 Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 at 2:50 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary. 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.