Burrell’s Walk-off Homer in 10th Pushes Phillies Past Giants
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The San Francisco Giants pounded out 16 hits on Phillies pitching and centerfielder and former Phillie Aaron Rowand homered off of J.C. Romero in the top of the tenth inning to put the Giants up 5-4. But in the Phils’ tenth inning, with two out and 2nd baseman Chase Utley on base, closer Brian Wilson ran the count full feeding leftfielder Pat Burrell fastball after fastball at speeds reaching 98 mph until Pat “the Bat” yanked a walk-off shot to leftfield as the Phils topped the Giants by a 6-5 score in Friday’s series opener.
With the win, the Phils held on to their 1/2 game lead over the Mets and the Florida Marlins who both also won.
The Phils staked starter Kyle Kendrick to a 4-1 lead as Utley, NL leader in homers (12) and batting average (.364) pounded a 2 run shot to rightfield young lefthander Patrick Misch in the first inning and 3rd baseman and former Giant Pedro Feliz followed a Misch lead-off walk to Burrell in the fourth by going yard for his 4th homer. The Giants scored in the fourth as 3rd baseman Jose Castillo drilled an RBI single to rightfield for the Giants 1st run.
Kendrick, who went 3 up, 3 down on the Giants in the sixth inning and was sent back out to pitch the seventh, was touched for a Castillo lead-off single to center and a bunt single to the pitcher by shortstop Emmanuel Burriss before hitting the shower. Ryan Madson replaced Kendrick and was greeted with a single to center by pinch hitter Eugenio Velez to load the bases with none out. After a strikeout, 2nd baseman Ray Durham laced a 2 run single to rightfield to close the book on Kendrick. 4-3 Phillies. But then, catcher Benji Molina grounded out, in the process scoring Velez to tie the game. Rowand struck out to end the inning.
The Giants threatened in the eighth and ninth innings getting a runner to 3rd base in both innings; in the eigth on two Tom Gordon wild pitches and in the ninth on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout on closer Brad Lidge. However, the Giants couldn’t push a run home in either situation, thus opening the way for tenth inning events.
Lefthanded reliever Romero was called on for the tenth inning to pitch to the righthanded hitting Rowand to lead-off the inning. Rowand’s solo shot to centerfield was the first run cored off of Romero this year and ended a scoreless streak extending back to last season.
AP sports writer Rob Maaddi provides the details of Romero’s scoreless streak for Yahoo sports;
Romero, the Phillies’ left-handed relief ace, hadn’t allowed an earned run in 28 1-3 innings, dating to last season. He pitched 12 2-3 scoreless innings this year before Rowand took him deep. It was the first homer Romero allowed in 60 appearances, spanning 45 2-3 innings.
Following the homer, Romero gave up a single which was rubbed out on a doubleplay. Then Burriss singled to the pitcher and Velez walked. But Romero struck out leftfielder Fred Lewis swinging to end the threat and the inning.
In the bottom of the tenth, closer Wilson got rightfielder Jayson Werth and 1st baseman Ryan Howard both on strikes with Utley’s single sandwiched in the middle.
With two out, Wilson got behind 3-0 in the count to Burrell. The Burrell whiffed Wilson’s next offering followed by fouling off the next one, all five pitches being successive heaters. Wilson went to the well again with more heat and “the Bat” was waiting on it. The result was Burrell’s 3rd career game-winning homer, his first since 2002.
Romero, who gave up the temporary lead run in the tenth inning, was credited with his 2nd win of the season; he has yet to lose. Wilson, with 9 saves in 10 attempts, was charged with the loss.
As an added note, the Phillies are 13-9 since shortstop Jimmy Rollins went down with his ankle sprain on April 8th. AP’s Maaddi notes;
The 2007 NL MVP won’t come off the disabled list when he’s eligible Monday, but is hoping to return for Thursday’s game in Arizona.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Friday’s games, click here.
In game 2 on Saturday, Matt Cain is opposed by the top of the Phillies starting rotation, Brett Myers. On Sunday’s get-away game, young 24 year old Tim Lincecum facing ace lefthander Cole Hamels.
Following the Giants, the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the best record in the Majors, meet the Phils for 4 games.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Saturday’s games, click here.
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