Howard’s 4 RBIs Power Phillies to Sweep of Braves
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Phillies starter Adam Eaton kept the Phillies in the game through six innings while centerfielder Shane Victorino and 1st baseman Ryan Howard took care of the offense as the Phillies broke a 3-3 tie with 3 ninth inning runs to complete a sweep of the Atlanta Braves by a 6-3 score.
With the win, their 4th in a row and 12 of their last 14, the NL East frontrunning Phillies remained 3 1/2 games ahead of 2nd place Florida who pounded the Cincinnati Reds. The 3rd place Braves dropped to 6 1/2 games and the 4th place Mets, who lost again to San Diego, dropped to 7 1/2 games off the pace.
Howard had 3 RBI doubles in the game, including a big 2 run double in the ninth inning which followed Victorino’s bases loaded RBI single as the Phillies broke the 3-3 deadlock to win the game. Both Victorino and Howard went 3-5 for the game with hot hitting Victorino scoring on each of Howard’s doubles. The Phillies collected 11 hits for the game.
The Phillies broke on top in the first inning against 30 year old reliever turned starter Jorge Campillo as both Victorino and 2nd baseman Chase Utley singled with one out. Howard then smashed a double scoring Victorino and putting Utley at 3rd. Campillo walked leftfielder Pat Burrell intentionally to load the bases. Rightfielder Geoff Jenkins grounded out scoring Utley and putting runners at 2nd and 3rd. Greg Dobbs, who got a rare start at 3rd base, flied out to end the inning.
The Braves quickly knotted the score in the bottom of the first with one out as 1st baseman Mark Teixeira solved Eaton for the only homer of the game, a 2 run shot to centerfield.
In the third, the Phils took a 3-2 lead on Howard’s 2nd double, again scoring Victorino who had reached on a bunt single and stole 2nd base. Howard was out at 3rd on the play trying to stretch the double to a single. They had a chance to get more in the fourth inning with bases loaded and 2 out. But Victorino flied out to end the threat.
Eaton, who pitched out of jams in the second and third innings got into a 1 out, 1st and 3rd situation as pitcher Campillo tried to help his cause with a single. After leftfielder Josh Anderson’s RBI single to center, Eaton got a ground out and strike out to escape further damage.
From there through the eighth inning, both teams threw up goose eggs as Eaton went six full innings giving up 3 runs on 8 hits and Campillo, who lasted 5 1/3 innings, gave up 3 runs on 7 hits. Neither starter was in on the final decision.
The Phillies brought on Chad Durbin who allowed 2 hits and walked 1 in two innings of work and was credited with his 2nd win vs 1 loss when the Phillies scored their winning runs in the ninth.
The Braves bullpen did nearly as well over sixth, seventh and eighth innings. But then the Phillies hopped on reliever Blaine Boyer in the ninth. AP Sports Writer Charles Odum describes the inning for Yahoo sports;
Pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett singled with one out in the ninth off Boyer (1-4) and moved to second on Jimmy Rollins’ single to right.
Victorino drove in Bruntlett with a single to center and moved to second when Gregor Blanco’s throw to the plate was up the first-base line.
Boyer’s intentional walk to Chase Utley loaded the bases, and Howard lined the next pitch from Boyer over left fielder Josh Anderson’s head for a two-run double.
“We’re a better offensive team in the late innings,” Phillies starting pitcher Adam Eaton said. “When the game is on the line, our hitters get hot.”
Closer Brad Lidge came on in the ninth inning and it was “Goodnight Irene” for the Braves on 7 pitches as Lidge earned his 17th save. Reliever Blaine Boyer (1-4) was charged with the loss.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Sunday’s games, click here.
The Phillies have Monday off before moving on to Florida and then St. Louis before returning home to play Boston and the L. A. Angels in inter-league competition.
In Tuesday night’s opener, Brett Myers opposes Florida’s Ricky Nolasco. In Wednesday’s battle of young lefthanders, ace Cole Hamels faces Andrew Miller. Thursday’s final is another battle of lefties as veteran 45 year old Jamie Moyer faces youngster Scott Olsen.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Monday’s games, click here.
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