» Cubs Beat Phillies in Series Final

Cubs Beat Phillies in Series Final

I was watching the tail-end of the Boston, Baltimore game around midnight, Israel time.

Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie was sailing along with a 3 hit shutout through 8 innings, easily hs best performance of the season to that point as Baltimore led the Red Sox by 5-0.

Guthrie got the first out before catcher Ramon Hernandez flubbed centerfielder Coco Crisp’s pop-up between homeplate and the pitcher’s mound, which Guthrie could have had a play on, giving the Red Sox new life. And oh, did Red Sox ever take advantage. Without narrating the sequence of the entire inning and as ‘Big Papi’ David Ortiz led the cheering from the dugout steps, Boston stormed back with 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to upend the startled Orioles by a 6-5 score. It seems obvious that at least one-half of my pre-season prediction is well on it’s way to fruition. It’s an old baseball axiom, winning teams ALWAYS convert gifts like this into wins.

But the Phillies got no such gift last night from the Chicago Cubs whom they had beaten in the previous two games. Cubs lefthander Ted Lilly was masterful over 8 innings allowing only 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 6 and walking only 1 as Chicago managed to win one in its series with the Phillies by a 4-1 score.

Yahoo sports’ AP report details just how effective Lilly was;

Lilly retired 13 of his first 14 batters and didn’t allow a hit until Abraham Nunez slapped a ground single through the right side of the infield with two outs in the fifth. Lilly retired his next seven batters, then gave up a leadoff single in the eighth to Wes Helms.

Jon Lieber, who has pitched consistently well since being reinstalled in thew starting rotation, was also effective for the Phillies keeping them in the game throughout his 8 innings of work. It’s a shame that he had to lose this one, he pitched well enough to win giving up 2 runs on 9 hits while walking one and striking out 5.

The Cubs scored 2 in the 4th inning for a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by rightfielder Matt Murton and shortstop Cesar Izturis sandwched around the 2nd of 2 rare errors by 3rd baseman Abraham Nunez.

After that, Lieber made short work of the Cubs aside from the
a 6th inning jam where the Cubs didn’t score on 4 hits thanks to a fine throw from Pat Burrell in leftfield which nailed Matt Murton at home on a basehit by catcher Michael Barrett.

The Phillies scored their only run of the game on Lilly in the bottom of the 8th inning. Wes Helms led off with a single to centerfield and was replaced by pinch-runner Michael Bourne. Nunez, who went 2 for 3 for the game, singled to right and Bourne went to 3rd base. Catcher Carlos Ruiz lined out to 3rd base.

The Yahoo sports’ AP report relates what happened next;

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez who made the catch threw wide to first trying to double up Nunez. Bourn scored on the error, cutting Philadelphia’s lead in half. Pinch-hitter Shane Victorino then flied out and Jimmy Rollins lined out.

Enter reliever Antonio Alfonseca to replace Lieber for the 9th inning. He only lasted 1/3 inning giving up 2 hits, issuing a walk and was charged with 2 Chicago runs. Fabio Castro replaced Alfonseca and issued a walk forcing in a run. Clay Condrey replaced Castro, got a fielder’s choice which scored the 4th Cub run. Then Murton grounded to 3rd base to retire the side.

In the bottom of the 9th, Cubs closer Ryan Dempster recorded his 8th save as the Phillies went down in the 9th although 2nd baseman Chase Utley got a 2 out single but was out trying to stretch it to a double.

For the scores, boxscores and recaps on this and all of Sunday’s games, click here.

The Phillies next face the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers for 4 games beginning on Monday.

Veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer goes in the opener against Milwaukee’s Dave Bush. The Brewers were doused somewhat by the New York Mets on Sunday by a 9-1 score as Oliver Perez and reliever Aaron Heilman combined for a masterful 3 hitter.