Phillies Salvage Brewers Finale With Extra-Inning Win
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The Phillies came back from a 5 run deficit in the 9th inning against the previusly untouched Brewers’ bullpen to tie the game at 6-6. And then, 3rd baseman Wes Helms drilled an 11th inning 2 out, 2 run double to rightfield as the Phillies upended the Brewers in their series finale by an 8-6 score.
With the win, the Phillies remained 5 games behind the NL East 1st place Mets who defeated the Chicago Cubs by an 8-3 score as veteran lefthander Tom Glavine finally nailed down his 300th career win. The Phils remained in 3rd place, 1/2 game behind the Atlanta Braves who edged the Colorado Rockies in 10 innings by a 6-5 score.
The Phillies fell behind the Brewers by a 6-1 score as Jeff Suppan pitched 1 run, 5 hit ball through 5 2/3 innings and the bullpen held the Phillies to a single hit while issuing 1 walk in 2 1/3 innings through the 8th.
The AP report for Yahoo sports contrasts the performances of Suppan and Eaton;
Suppan was in control early. He did not allow a runner past second base in the first five innings but ran into some trouble in the sixth, when Rowand’s RBI single cut the lead to 6-1.
The Brewers jumped on Eaton early, with their four first-inning runs coming on three straight two-out doubles — all to the opposite field.
Adam Eaton was touched for 4 Brewers runs in the 1st inning and 2 more in the 5th. Eaton gave up 6 runs on 9 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. He left with one out and a runner on 2nd base. Reliever Clay Condrey got the final 2 outs of the 5th inning and held the Brewers scoreless in the 6th despite a 2 out triple and an intentional walk. The 6th inning threat was quelled when rightfielder Kevin Mench grounded into a fielder’s choice to retire the side. Reliever Geoff Geary held the Brewers scoreless in the 7th and 8th innings. J.C. Romero was inserted to pitch the 9th inning. Romero struck out two, with a walk sandwiched in between before Brett Myers replaced Romero to complete the striking out of the side.
The Brewers bullpen, which had held the Phillies scoreless on but two walks in 8 2/3rd innings of the previous 2 games as well as this one, ran into big trouble in the 9th inning as reliever Matt Wise committed a fielding error allowing 3rd baseman Wes Helms to reach 1st safely. Outfielder Jayson Werth followed with his 4th homer, a 2 run shot to leftfield.
Wise was yanked for closer Francisco Cordero who got two outs before the Phillies finally reached him as shortstop Jimmy Rollins walked, then reached 2nd base on fielder indifference and moved to 3rd on 2nd baseman Tadahito Iguchi’s single through the middle. Cordero then walked leftfielder Pat Burrell to load the bases, hit 1st baseman Ryan Howard to force in the Phils’ 4th run and then gave up a two run single to centerfielder Aaron Rowand to tie the game at 6-6.
After reliever Myers made short work of the Brewers, getting the 3rd out on a strikeout in the 9th inning and allowed only a base hit in the 10th to earn his 2nd win, Helms drove in the winning runs with his two out double in the 11th inning.
But for final excitement, things got quite dicey for reliever Jose Mesa in the 11th inning. After retiring the 1st 2 Brewers’ hitters, Mesa loaded the bases on two walks with a double sandwiched in between before retiring 2nd baseman Craig Counsell on a line-out to 2nd baseman Iguchi to nail down the win. It was Mesa’s 1st save of the season.
For the scores, box scores for this and all of Sunday’s games, click here.
The Phils have an open date on Monday before beginning an crucial 6 game home stand, 3 games each against the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves.
Pitchers for Tuesday’s game one of the Florida series are announced; veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer is opposed by Rick VandenHurk.
In game two on Wednesday, rookie Kyle Kendrick faces struggling lefthander Dontrelle Willis.
For the scores, boxscores on all of Monday’s games, click here.
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