Phillies Beat Florida in Opener as Rowand, Ruiz Star
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The Phillies got back to winning ways against Florida on Friday after losing the get-away game to Washington on Thursday.
Although starter Freddy Garcia and reliever Antonio Alfonseca couldn’t stand the prosperity of a 3-1 lead as the Marlins charged ahead with 1 run in the 3rd inning and 2 more in the 5th, the Phils charged back to 2 in the 8th inning for a 5-4 lead, only to watch closer Tom Gordon blow the save in the 9th before winning in the bottom of the 9th on Carlos Ruiz’s none out, bases loaded walk-off single to win by a 6-5 score. Neither Garcia nor Marlins’ starter Anibal Sanchez figured in the final win or loss column.
In the meantime, the Washington Nationals opened their series in DC against the New York Mets on Friday with a first-timer this season. They scored 3 runs in the first on rightfielder Austin Kearns’ 3 run homer, notched 1 more in the 6th inning and then held on to whip the Mets by a 4-3 score.
But back to the Phillies and Marlins.
3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera got the Marlins on the board in the first inning with a two out solo homer off of Garcia. But the Phillies came back in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 3-1 lead in large part due to starter Sanchez’s wildness. Centerfielder Aaron Rowand led off the inning with his 5th homer of the season. Rowand would go 4 for 5 while extending his hitting streak to 15 games. Yahoo sports’ AP recap reports that “Rowand is batting .448 (26-for-58) with five homers and 10 RBIs during his hitting streak.” After 3rd baseman Wes Helms walked and moved to 2nd on Sanchez’s wild pitch, catcher Carlos Ruiz doubled to centerfield scoring Helms. Sanchez then uncorked another wild one moving Ruiz to 3rd base. Pitcher Garcia made the first out while driving in Ruiz with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
In the 3rd inning, 1st baseman Mike Jacobs clubbed a one out solo shot to rightfield. 3-2 Phillies.
After retiring the first 2 hitters the Florida 5th inning, Garcia’s unraveled. Garcia struck out 8 in 4 2/3 innings but worked himself into quite a jam. Jacobs doubled to centerfield, leftfielder Josh Willingham was hit by a pitch. Rightfielder Cody Ross walked loading the bases and that was it for Garcia. Alfonseca relieved and was greeted by catcher Miguel Olivo’s run-scoring single. He then forced in a run as centerfielder Alfredo Amezaga was walked. He then got Sanchez to ground into a fielder’s choice with Amezaga being forced at 2nd to end the inning. Florida 4, Phillies 3.
Yahoo sports’ AP recap comments on Garcia’s performance;
Freddy Garcia had another so-so outing for the Phillies. The right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. He struck out eight in his third start since coming off the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.
A two-time All-Star acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the offseason, Garcia hasn’t met expectations, though it’s quite early.
The Phillies threatened in the bottom of the 5th with 3 singles and 2 outs sandwiched in between, but Sanchez escaped getting Greg Dobbs, who pinch hit for Alfonseca, to pop out to first base to end the inning.
Inquirer Staff Writer Shannon Ryan picks up the game from here;
They rallied from a 4-3 deficit to take a one-run lead in the eighth inning on home runs by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.
Rollins’ homer was his ninth of the season, tops in the National League.
It looked as if that was the game. All they needed was a clean inning from their closer.
But Gordon (1-1) made it . . . interesting.
In the top of the ninth, he gave up two hits and the run that tied it.
“I’ve just got to continue to battle,” he said.
“It’s just a matter of him getting his command better,” manager Charlie Manuel said.
Brett Myers had kept the Phillies in the game earlier with another strong effort out of the bullpen. He pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing four hits and striking out four.
“Brett will get some chances,” Manuel said. “The more he pitches, the better he’s going to get.”
Ryan Madson gave up a hit and struck out two in the eighth.
Rowand, who homered in the second inning, delivered a key hit in the ninth when he singled to right.
“I feel good at the plate,” Rowand said. “I’m not going to lie. It’s nice to have balls I’m hitting fall in. . . . I’ve got to take it all in stride. You try to have the same preparation every day and go to work.”
Wes Helms followed by dropping a sacrifice bunt that was mishandled by Marlins reliever Randy Messenger. Ruiz then came to the plate and singled to drive in Michael Bourn, who had opened the inning with a walk.
Gordon was awarded the win depite blowing the save. Marlins’ reliever Taylor Tankersley, who gave up the homers to Rollins and Utley, blew a save opportunity and reliever Messenger was charged with the loss.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on this and all Friday games, click here.
On Saturday, Adam Eaton opposes lefthander Dontrelle Willis and on Sunday, veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer faces Wes Obermueller in the get-away game.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on these and all Saturday and Sunday games, click here and here.
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