Phillies Win Streak at 3 on Another Late Rally
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Leftfielder Pat Burrell cleared the bases with a ninth inning double, taking 3rd base on the throw home, as the Phillies once again rallied all the way back from a 6-4 seventh inning deficit to defeat the Colorado Rockies by an 8-6 score on Tuesday.
The win put the Phillies over the .500 mark for the first time, was their 3rd straight win and their 3rd consecutive come-from-behind victory.
Starter Brett Myers was far from impressive in this one, giving up 6 runs on 11 hits, including 2 homers and walking 2 while striking out 3 in seven innings. But the offense kept the Phils close against lefthander Jeff Francis. Francis also went 7 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 4, striking out 3 and giving up centerfielder Jayson Werth’s one out seventh inning solo shot to leftfield, Werth’s second homer in 2 games.
Had the final score gone differently, manager Manuel undoubtedly would have drawn controversy for leaving Myers in after his quick, three up, three down sixth.
Phillies Nations’ Tim Malcolm discussed Manuel’s leaving Myers in;
You have to give Myers confidence to go seven, even with mediocre stuff. That he was facing the meat of the Rockies lineup at Coors Field is just a tough factor that led to his six earned runs.
The difference in the game came down to the bullpen. The Rockies tandem of Matt Herges and, particularly, closer Manuel Corpas were pounded while Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge gave up but one hit between them, with Lidge striking out 2 of the 3 hitters he faced to nail down the win. Madson, who gave up the only hit, was credited with the win and Lidge, who looked awesome, notched the save, his 4th in 4 chances.
As well as the bullpen, this 3 game surge by the Phillies has been built upon a number of factors, such as Jayson Werth’s fine performance while subbing for the injured Shane Victorino, In fact, if Werth keeps it up, he may well supplant Victorino permanently in centerfield. Also factors are the blazing hot hitting of both 2nd baseman Chase Utley, with 2 RBIs, and Pat Burrell. Werth, with his seventh inning homer, and Utley each had 2 hits on Tuesday. Also a factor in the win was a 3 for 5 game by 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz. And pinch hitter Greg Dobbs keeps coming through in the clutch, as with his eighth inning RBI single to rightfield.
Defense has also been a factor for the Phillies, as highlighted by Utley’s great play on the hard chopper which took a weird bounce off of the pitcher’s mound in Monday’s game. Although they committed 3 errors in Monday’s game, the errors turned out inconsequential. Prior to Monday, they had made but one error in their previous four games and were error-free on Tuesday.
Closer Manuel Corpas, who was pounded by Burrell’s 3 run, bases-
clearing double, was charged with both the loss and a blown save.
For more details and stats on this game, click here and here. For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Tuesday’s games, click here.
The Phils now travel on to Milwaukee for another short 2 game series with the Brewers starting Wednesday. In the opener, young ace lefthander Cole Hamels is opposed by David Bush. In Thursday’s second game, veteran lefty Jamie Moyer opposes Jeff Suppan. Then the Phils move on to Pittsburgh for a 3 game weekend series with the Pirates.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
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