Cubs, Phillies Trade 6 in the 7th; Dobbs 4 for 4, Phillies Win
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After 6 innings on Saturday the Phillies led 5-1, as starter Freddy Garcia had easily his best outing of the season. But in the 7th, the Cubs jumped all over Garcia and relievers Geoff Geary and Antonio Alfonseca for 7 runs to take a 7-5 lead. But Phils answered with 6 of their own in the bottom of the 7th inning, capped by a 3 run homer by catcher Carlos Ruiz who went 3 for 3 to win the game by an 11-5 score.
Meanwhile, the streaking NL Central leading Milwaukee Brewers, who open a 4 game series in Philadelphia on Monday, got a fine performance from starting pitcher Ben Sheets, a grand slam homer to leftfield by shortstop JJ Hardy, a 3 for 5 game by rightfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. in blasting Mike Pelfrey and the New York Mets by a 12-3 score to tie their series at one game apiece.
But back to the Phillies. Garcia pitched splendidly through 6 innings, only having gotten into and out of one jam, that being in the 6th; the inning Cubs scored one run on 4 hits and a wild pitch. Unfortunately, he ended up not being invbolvecd in the decision.
4th year utility infielder Greg Dobbs was in the midst of a career game going 4 for 4 and driving in 2 runs and scoring 2 as the Phils cobbled together 2 runs in the 2nd and 3 more in the 6th for a 5-1 lead as 4 runs were scored on starter Angel Guzman and another off of lefthanded reliever Scott Eyre. The Phils were aided by 2nd baseman Chase Utley’s 6th inning leadoff homer, Dobbs’ hitting and a 6th inning triple by hot-hitting Abraham Nunez who spelled Wes Helms at 3rd base as Helms and injured 1st baseman slugger Ryan Howard sat out again.
It was announced Saturday that Howard was put on the 15 day disabled list due to his leg injury.
AP sports reporter Rob Maadi reports for Yahoo sports;
Ryan Howard was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left quadriceps strain after he was out of the starting lineup for the fifth straight game Saturday.
The Philadelphia Phillies recalled catcher/first baseman Chris Coste from Triple-A Ottawa to take Howard’s roster spot. Howard is eligible to come off the disabled list May 25.
Howard also has been bothered by a sprained left knee. An MRI exam on his knee showed no structural damage and another MRI exam on his thigh revealed he had some internal bleeding. Howard initially injured his quadriceps in spring training.
Carrying a 5-1 lead into the 7th inning, Garcia who eased out of a big jam in the 6th relatively unscathed, started to unravel in the 7th.
AP’s Rob Maadi describes the Cubs’ 7th inning for the Yahoo sports game recap;
Starter Freddy Garcia couldn’t hold the lead. Garcia left after walking Mark DeRosa and allowing a double to Cesar Izturis. Geary entered to face Murton, who connected for his first career pinch-hit homer to get the Cubs within 5-4.
Alfonso Soriano followed with a single and moved to second on Cliff Floyd’s tapper to Geary. Derrek Lee singled to right and Aramis Ramirez drove in the tying run with a single down the right-field line.
After a 64-minute rain delay, Alfonseca replaced Geary with runners at first and third. Michael Barrett lined out to third baseman Nunez, but Jones snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a two-run double to left-center to give the Cubs their first lead, 7-5. DeRosa followed with a single to right field, but Victorino threw Jones out at the plate.
Victorino also nailed Soriano trying to score in the sixth. He has six of the Phillies’ major league-leading 17 outfield assists.
Winning pitcher Alfonseca (2-1) did finally manage to retire the side in the seventh after replacing Geoff Geary with two runners on. But the Cubs’ lead was short-lived.
Maadi describes the Phillies’ 7th inning;
After blowing a lead for the 13th time this season by allowing six runs in the top of the seventh, the Phillies answered with six runs against relievers Will Ohman and Bob Howry in the bottom half.
Aaron Rowand singled to start a two-out rally. Utley doubled into the right-field corner and Rowand scored after right fielder Matt Murton’s throwing error.
Howry (0-3) entered and walked Pat Burrell. Dobbs then ripped a triple down the right-field line to put the Phillies ahead 8-7. Dobbs scored on Nunez’s infield single. Ruiz followed with an opposite-field homer to right to give Philadelphia a four-run cushion.
“He’s been swinging the bat pretty good,” manager Charlie Manuel said of Dobbs, who raised his batting average from .222 to .300.
Closer Brett Myers came in to pitch the 8th and 9th innings turning the lights out on Chicago despite 2 Culb hits in the 9th. Myers struck out 5 in his 2 innings closing out the game.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on all Saturday’s games, click here.
On Sunday, Jon lieber faces lefthander Ted Lilly as the Phils hope to sweep the Cubs.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on all of Sunday’s games, click here.
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