Jenkins Scores From First, Phillies Beat Astros
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Rightfielder Geoff Jenkins’ sprint home from 1st base on 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz’s RBI double capped a maddening four run ninth inning rally as the Phillies came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Houston Astros in their series opener by a 4-3 score in the annual Jackie Robinson game on Tuesday.
As is seemingly becoming the norm this season, once again the Phillies continue to execute flawlessly in clutch, late-inning situations. The Victorino bunt and Rollins’ charge from 1st to 3rd base on the play readily comes to mind.
On a typically cold mid-April night when the ball wasn’t carrying, starter Adam Eaton, who was switched into Kyle Kendrick’s slot as Phillies tweaked their starting rotation, went deep into the game for the third time giving up 3 runs on 7 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 in his third no-decision in three starts.
The rotation change enables Eaton to face the Mets next Sunday night. Eaton is 5-0 with a 2.90 ERA in eight career starts against New York.
Meanwhile, Astros starter Shawn Chacon was impressive in eight innings, keeping the Phillies in check, spreading out 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5 before handing the ball to closer Jose Valverde for the abortive ninth.
Valverde recorded only one out in the inning, but that out led to the Phillies’ winning run.
Outfielder Chris Snelling, having just been activated from the minors to fill the roster slot vacated by centerfielder Shane Victorino who went on the 15 DL with a strained right calf, led off the ninth against Valverde with a homer to rightfield. Valverde then plunked 2nd baseman Chase Utley with a pitch (what else is new?). After 1st baseman Ryan Howard struck out, leftfielder Pat Burrell continued his torrid hitting witha 2 run opposite-field homer to rightfield to knot the game at 3-3. Burrell has 5 homers, 15 RBIs and a .349 BA in 14 ballgames this season.
The Beerleaguer blog offered this comment;
Remember the days when he was the last guy you wanted up in that situation? Seems like only yesterday, because it practically was.
After Burrell’s homer, Valverde fanned Jenkins. The AP recap of the game describes the action from here for Yahoo sports;
Jenkins struck out, but the ball eluded catcher Brad Ausmus for a passed ball and Jenkins scampered safely to first before Feliz ripped a shot into the left-field corner. Jenkins slid home with the winning run just ahead of the tag.
Jenkins was determined to score, and he never saw the stop sign put up by third base coach Steve Smith.
“I felt like I could score,” Jenkins said. “The crowd was going berserk and once I got home, it was a tremendous feeling when you’re safe.”
Smith had both hands in the air as Jenkins rounded third, yet he continued all the way home.
“I waited as long as I could,” Smith said. “I tried to be in front of him but he went right by.”
“It was a great piece of running,” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. “It was a big win for us.”
Houston scored on Eaton in the first inning as shortstop Miguel Tejada slapped an RBI single to centerfield. Eaton had gotten two quick outs on the top of the Astros order.
The two starters then matched zeros through the Houston sixth when, with one out, 3rd baseman Geoff Blum RBI singled to rightfield followed by centerfielder Hunter Pence’s RBI sacrifice fly to centerfield put the Astros up 3-0.
Eaton gave way to Chad Durbin who gave up 2 hits in two scoreless innings of work and to Rudy Seanez who pitched a scoreless ninth while issuing 2 walks to receive credit for the win. Valverde got a double-hit in the minus column being charged with a blown save as well as the loss.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins missed his 6th straight game with the sprained left ankle, being spelled by Eric Bruntlett. Rollins did pinch hit for Durbin in the eighth inning and grounded out to 3rd base and still showed ankle weakness running gingerly to first.
The Ryan Howard strikeout watch continues. In 14 games, he’s got 19 fans. That works out to 220 strikeouts over the 162 game season. Calculated in terms of at bats, Howard strikes out in 31% of the time or, based on total number of at bats in the 2006 season when he played 159 games, it still translates into 215 strikeouts for the season.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Monday’s and Tuesday’s games, click here and here.
Kyle Kendrick, who’s slot was shifted with Eaton, will start Wednesday’s game two of the series against Houston’s Roy Oswalt who has been pounded in his first three starts. With a win, the Phillies can jump over the .500 mark by a game.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
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