Phillies Salvage Get-Away Game Over Arizona, Get to “Unit” Late
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Arizona’s “Big Unit” lefthander Randy Johnson, who struck out the first six hitters he faced and struck out the side 3 times, sailed into the 7th inning sporting a 3-0 lead having given up but 2 singles.
But a single, a hit batsman and a walk topped off by a none-out Ryan Howard pinch-hit grandslam turned things completely around. The Phillies went 4-2-3 off of Johnson and the Arizona bullpen in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings to win the final of the 3 game series with the Diamondbacks by a score of 9-3.
“Unit” was awesome, unhittable through 6 innings, but Phils lefthander and winning pitcher Jamie Moyer was consistent, efficient and didn’t let the game get out of control once the D’backs cobbled together a 3 run lead. Arizona scored a first inning run on a sacrifice fly, and then got solo blasts off of Moyer by 2nd baseman Orlando Hudson in the 4th inning and leftfielder Eric Byrnes in the 6th.
In the 7th inning, after centerfielder Aaron Rowand led off with a single, 2nd baseman Chase Utley was hit by a pitch and leftfielder Pat Burrell walked, Johnson was lifted for reliever Brandon Medders to pitch to righthanded hitting 1st baseman Wes Helms. Manager Charlie Manuel, who made a couple of judgemental errors regarding pinch-hitting previously in the series, didn’t flub this one. The lefthanded power-hitting Howard, still nursing his thigh, was pinch-hit for Helms and saw but one pitch from Medders. And it sailed 371 feet into the right field seats. Howard indicates that his thigh is feeling better.
From there, it was all Phillies. In the 8th inning, Utley drove in a run on fielders choice and Michael Bourne, spelling Burrell defensively late in the game in leftfield, got an RBI single to make the score 6-3 Phillies.
And once closer Brett Myers made short work of the D’backs in the 8th inning, the Phils struck for 3 more in the 9th inning on shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ RBI double and rightfielder Shane Victorino’s 2 run rocket shot to rightfield — the icing on the cake.
Then the ball was handed back to Myers and it was Goodnight Irene for the D’backs as Myers struck out the first 2 hitters before giving up a basehit followed by a foul-pop out to catcher Carlos Ruiz to end the game.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on this and all Wednesday games, click here.
The Phils have an open date on Thursday before heading home for a 3 game series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on all Thursday games, click here.
Cole Hamels opens the series against the Cubs on Friday in a battle of lefthanders with Rich Hill. Freddy Garcia opposes Angel Guzman on Saturday and Jon Lieber faces lefthander Ted Lilly on Sunday.
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