Cubs Nip Phillies in Final in 10 Innings
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The Phillies came back from a 4-2 deficit with 3 runs in the sixth inning, including Eric Bruntlett’s first homer as a Phillie. But the bullpen couldn’t hold a lead late and reliever Rudy Seanez got into walk trouble in the tenth inning as the Cubs’ winning run scored in their 6-5 victory on a throwing error by 2nd baseman Chase Utley. It was Utley’s 4th error of the young season.
After manager Charlie Manuel got the boot in the sixth inning for arguing about 2nd baseman Mark DeRosa’s leadoff homer to leftfield which gave the Cubs a 4-2 lead and which replays showed was definitely just foul, the Phillies rallied for 3 runs in their sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead.
Bruntlett led of the sixth with his solo blast. Then after 2 singles,
centerfielder Jayson Werth, who also had a solo blast in the fifth (one of two runs scored on starter Jason Marquis), drove in the tying run and Utley drove in the lead run with a sacrifice fly to right centerfield. The 3 run damage came off of reliever Michael Wuertz who got noone out in the inning.
The lead held up for the Phils until the Chicago eighth inning when Tom Gordon once again got himself into trouble this time with one out, by walking DeRosa and then giving up a single to leftfield by shortstop Ryan Theriot, with pinch runner Ronny Cedeno advancing to 2nd base on the play. J.C. Romero was sent to replace Gordon. Romero was greeted by Cedeno who stole third base. Then catcher Geovany Soto singled to rightfield scoring Cedeno. Although the run was charged to Gordon, Romero got socked with a blown save for his trouble.
The Phillies had reliever Kerry Wood in some ninth inning trouble with runners at 1st and 2nd base with one out, but Wood struck out Bruntlett swinging and got catcher Carlos Ruiz on a ground out to retire the side.
This set the stage for the Cubs’ winning run in the tenth off of Seanez.
AP sports reporter Rob Maaddi records the scene for Yahoo sports;
Carlos Zambrano’s hustle—not his pitching or bat—paid off in a rare appearance off the bench.
Cedeno walked leading off the 10th against Rudy Seanez (0-1) and Geovany Soto walked after Ryan Theriot’s sacrifice. Zambrano, a career .215 hitter with 12 homers, was called on to pinch-hit because the Cubs were out of position players.
The left-handed hitting Zambrano bounced a grounder to shortstop Bruntlett that should’ve been an inning-ending double play. However, first baseman Ryan Howard couldn’t scoop Utley’s poor throw to first and Cedeno scored.
The Phillies have committed 15 errors, second only to Pittsburgh.
Utley, who has four of the errors, may have rushed his throw because Zambrano busted it down the line.
“Z put the ball in play and he hustled,” DeRosa said. “That shows the character of this team.”
The Phillies once again threatened against reliever Bob Howry with two out in their tenth as Utley doubled and Howard was intentionally walked. But Howry got late game leftfield defensive replacement So Taguchi to ground out to 2nd base to end the game.
Wood ended up credited with the win, while Seanez was charged with his first loss since being acquired by the Phillies from the Dodgers. Howry recorded the save, his first of the season.
The Phillies broke on top against Marquis in the first inning on Pat Burrell’s RBI sacrifice fly to leftfield. But the Cubs got 3 runs in the third inning off of veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer. The Phillies narrowed the gap in the fifth on Werth’s solo homer and the Cubs added their 4th run in the sixth inning on DeRosa’s disputed homer, also off of Moyer. When Theriot followed DeRosa with a single, that was it for Moyer. Both Moyer and Marquis went five innings, Moyer giving up 4 runs, Marquis 2. Chad Durbin replaced Moyer and got the side out to end the sixth.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Sunday’s games, click here.
The Phillies have an open date on Monday before entertaining the Houston Astros for 3 games on Tuesday through Thursday. Hopefully, regular shortstop Jimmy Rollins will be back in the starting lineup as young Kyle Kendrick hopes to get back in the groove at home as he faces Houston’s Shawn Chacon in the series opener on Tuesday.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Monday’s games, click here.
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