Phillies Win on Giants 9th Inning Error
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Giants reliever Keiichi Yabu got the first two Phillies out in the ninth inning, shortstop Eric Bruntlett and 2nd baseman Chase Utley on a lineout to 3rd base and a fly to leftfield. But after walking both 1st baseman Ryan Howard and leftfielder Pat Burrell, rightfielder Geoff Jenkins reached on a sharp grounder which 2nd baseman Eugenio Velez couldn’t handle with Howard scoring the winning run on the play as the Phillies edged the Giants by a 6-5 score to take two of three in their series.
Catcher Carlos Ruiz set the stage for the ninth inning with his one out, game-tying solo homer in the eighth off of reliever Vinnie Chulk. It was Ruiz’s first homer of the season.
With the win, the Phils remained 1/2 game ahead of the Florida Marlins who pounded the San Diego Padres by a 10-3 score and a game in front of the Mets whose game with the Arizona Diamondbacks is in progress as this post is being written. The win also marked manager Charlie Manuel’s 500th career managerial victory.
Pat Burrell once again had a productive game with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. The AP recap for Yahoo sports notes;
Burrell is second in the National League with 30 RBIs and has reached base in 30 straight games. His two-run double in the third inning [off of starter Tim Lincecum] scored [Shane] Victorino and Eric Bruntlett for a 2-0 advantage.
But twice the Phillies took leads and twice the Giants tied the game.
With the Phils up 2-0, and lefthander Cole Hamels not nearly as sharp as he’s been in recent starts, 3rd baseman Jose Castillo singled in a run and 1st baseman Rich Aurilia doubled Castillo in to tie the score in the fourth inning.
The Phils regained the lead at 4-2 in the fifth inning as Victorino scored on a bases loaded Lincecum wild pitch with one out. Lincecum then reloaded the bases issuing an intentional walk to Burrell. Geoff Jenkins followed with a sacrifice fly to score Bruntlett. The Phils were primed for more runs as Lincecum issued a second wild pitch moving Howard and Burrell to 3rd and 2nd base respectively. But 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz flied out to end the inning and the threat.
San Francisco wasted no time in tying the game again on Hamels in the sixth inning as Aurilia went yard with a two out, 2 run shot driving in centerfielder Aaron Rowand who reached on a single.
Both starters were evenly matched both on the scoreboard and in the stats. Hamels gave up 4 runs on 7 hits, including Aurilia’s homer, and struck out 5 while not issuing any walks. Lincecum’s line was 4 runs, 6 hits, 2 wild pitches while walking 2 and striking out 5.
The Giants took the lead at 5-4 in the eighth inning off of reliever Chad Durbin in his 2nd inning of work in relief of Hamels. Castillo tripled to rightfield with one out scoring Rowand who reached with a single.
Ruiz tied the score with his homer in the eighth opening the way for the game winner in the ninth.
Closer Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning and blew through the three Giants he faced on 5 pitches to earn his first win to go along with his 7 saves. Yabu, who walked Howard and Burrell prior to the winning run scoring in the ninth on the fielding error, was charged with his 2nd loss against 2 wins.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Sunday’s games, click here.
Following the Giants, the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the best record in the Majors, meet the Phils for 4 games beginning on Monday. Pitchers for the series opener are rookie Max Scherzer and veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Monday’s games, click here.
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