Werth’s 3 RBIs, Clutch Bullpen Highlight Phillies Extra-Inning Win
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Phillies ace lefthander Cole Hamels made his return from the DL going 3 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, but it took a 14th inning winning RBI single by pinch hitter Rod Barajas, rightfielder Jayson Werth’s 3 RBIs — 2 of them with his 14th inning triple, an unlikely 2 inning clutch relief effort by Jose Mesa and a perfect one inning save by reliever Clay Condrey to nail down the Phils’ 7-4 extra-inning win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The win was the Phillies’ 6th straight win.
With the win, combined with Washington’s 9-8 squeeker over the Mets, the Phils crept closer, to within 1 1/2 games of the NL East leaders. This is the closest the Phils have been to the Mets since they lost on opening day. They also remained 1 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres in the NL wild card race. The Padres edged the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phils hold a 3 game lead over the 3rd place Dodgers who were swept in a doubleheader by the Colorado Rockies.
The Phillies were first on the board as 2nd baseman Chase Utley doubled with one out and scored as Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer retired leftfielder Pat Burrell and walked the next 2 hitters before walking 3rd baseman Greg Dobbs to force in the run.
After Hamels went clean on the top of the Cards lineup in the 1st inning, he gave up 2 runs in the 2nd and another in the 3rd as the Cards went up by 3-1.
The Phils tied the game in the 6th inning on Werth’s RBI triple, his first of two triples and 3 RBIs for the game. Catcher Carlos Ruiz followed with an
RBI sacrifice fly to rightfield to tie the game. Both bullpens were solid through 9 innings before the Phils took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 10 inning.
AP sports writer R.B. Fallstrom recaps the game from here for Yahoo sports;
Second baseman Aaron Miles’ throwing error on Greg Dobbs’ bases-loaded grounder with one out allowed the Phillies to go ahead 4-3 in the 10th. Miles’ throw short-hopped catcher Kelly Stinnett in a force attempt at the plate.
Miles helped the Cardinals tie it in the bottom half. He singled with one out off Brett Myers, who blew his third save in 20 chances, advanced to third on Miguel Cairo’s single and scored on Scott Spiezio’s sacrifice fly.
Pinch-hitter Rod Barajas singled home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the 14th inning, Jayson Werth added a two-run triple.
Mike Maroth (0-5) was the 11th pitcher used by the sagging but stubborn Cardinals, an NL record. St. Louis lost for the 12th time in 13 games. The Cardinals also tied an NL record with 28 players used in an extra-inning game. The combined 53 players used by both teams tied the NL mark for an extra-inning game.
Clay Condrey, who allowed five runs and got no outs in Monday’s 13-11 victory, earned his first career save. Jose Mesa (1-2) struck out two in two innings.
Albert Pujols was scratched just before game time with a strained left calf muscle.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on all of Tuesday’s games, click here.
The Phillies go for possible sweep of the Cards on Wednesday as veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer faces Adam Wainwright, both with identical 13-11 season marks.
After St. Louis, the Phillies head for Washington D.C. for a 4 game series with the Nationals beginning on Thursday. Kyle Lohse opposes Jason Bergmann in the opener.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on all of Wednesday’s games, click here.
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