Phillies Defeat Marlins in Series Opener, Burrell 4 RBIs in First Win of Season
|
|
|
|
|
Phillies veteran starter lefthander Jamie Moyer pitched 6 2/3 inning of effective ball keeping the Florida Marlins hitters off-balance while shortstop Jimmy Rollins and leftfielder Pat Burrell homered, Burrell going 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs as the Phils finally uncorked some of the offense that they count on to surpass the New York Mets in scoring an 8-2 victory on Friday.
In the meantime, those Mets crushed the Atlanta Braves by an 11-1 score.
The Phils took command of the game jumping off to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning as both 3rd baseman Greg Dobbs and catcher Carlos Ruiz stroked RBI doubles off of losing pitcher Sergio Mitre.
The Marlins scored a single run off of Moyer in their half of the 2nd inning. AP sports reporter Steven Wine reports for Yahoo sports on the play upon Florida scored;
Miguel Olivo hit a two-out RBI triple to deep center in the second, but was thrown out trying for an inside-the-park homer. Olivo bruised his right thumb sliding into home and when it became swollen, he left the game in the sixth. He’s day to day.
The Phils scored a run in the 3rd inning on Burrell’s RBI single. Florida got a run in their half of the 3rd on a solo homer by shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
The Phils added 2 more in the 4th inning on Jimmy Rollins’ 2 run homer to rightfield. 5-2 Phillies after 4 innings. All Phillies scoring through the first 5 innings came off of Mitre who left after 5 innings having tossed 82 pitches and given up the 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and giving up Rollins’ homer.
Reliever Rickie Nolasco relieved Mitre in 6th inning and benefited from a line double-play to escape any damage. But in the 7th inning, Rightfielder Shane Victorino led off with a single and stole 2nd base. Nolasco then struck out 2nd baseman Chase Utley. With a runner on 2nd, 1st baseman Ryan Howard was walked intentionally. It wasn’t long before Nolasco paid the price for walking Howard. Burrell, batting 5th, belted a 3 run shot to leftfield to cap both the Phils scoring and his own 4 RBI game while giving glimpse of what may well happen often in 2007 when Howard is intentionally walked.
Inquirer staff writer Todd Zolecki reports on Burrell’s 3 run blast;
Burrell, who hit .222 with runners in scoring position last season, would welcome some of that [momentum]. He went 2 for 2 with runners in scoring position last night. His two-out single to center field in the third - which followed a walk to Howard - scored a run to help the Phillies take a 3-1 lead. His three-run homer in the seventh inning turned a potential save situation for the bullpen into a night in which everybody could relax. But of equal importance, Burrell’s homer came after the Marlins intentionally walked Howard.
Burrell then took a 1-2 pitch and crushed it to left field.
“That right there is what’s going to make them pitch to him,” manager Charlie Manuel said of Howard. “That’s how you do it. Burrell is capable of hitting 40 homers. He can produce runs. He had a big home run tonight. He broke the game open.”
Burrell is hitting .400 (6 for 15) with one homer and five RBIs in the first week of the season. He is 3 for 4 (.750) with runners in scoring position, while the rest of the team is 5 for 32 (.156).
Of course, it’s early.
But it’s a start.
“This is a hell of a lineup to hit fifth or even sixth,” Burrell said. “You’re going to get opportunities with the guys in front of me. Regardless if they pitch around somebody or not, you’re going to have a chance to drive in guys. And in my opinion, that’s what I’m here to do. As long as you’re getting opportunities, you can’t complain.”
After Burrell’s homer, Nolasco gave way to reliever Matt Lindstrom who got the side out. Two other Marlin relievers held the Phils scoreless in the 8th and 9th innings.
In the Florida 7th inning, when Moyer walked the first 2 Marlins he faced and then got 2 outs, reliever Antonio Alfonseca got the 3rd out to end the inning. Then Alfonseca got the side out in the 8th. Reliever Geoff Geary took over and closed down the Marlins on 2 hits in the 9th. Moyer’s line for 6 2/3 innings of work was 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts. Moyer gave up the one homer to Ramirez.
The boxscores and recaps for this and all Friday games can be found here.
Zolecki also reports for the Inquirer on Freddy Garcia’s rehab and other news;
Righthander Freddy Garcia, who is on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis, made a rehabilitation start last night for single-A Clearwater. In 31/3 shutout innings, he allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out seven. He is expected to make another rehab start Tuesday.
Righthander Clay Condrey struck out the first five batters he faced, which fell one short of tying the franchise record for consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher. Willie Hernandez struck out six in a row in 1983.
On Saturday, Brett Myers faces Dontrelle Willis and on Sunday, rookie Zack Segovia makes his big league debut starting against Marlins lefthander Scott Olsen.
The scores, boxscores and recaps on all Saturday games can be found here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |