Phillies Offense Routs Reds in Series Final
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Phillies bats came out hitterish from the start scoring 6 runs in the 1st four innings against Micah Owings and the Cincinnati bullpen, scoring in all but the fifth and ninth innings. Joe Blanton pitched four effective innings giving up only 3 hits before being bombed for 5 fifth inning runs on 4 hits, including a 2 out 3 run homer by 2nd baseman Brandon Phillips. With the score narrowed to 6-5, the Phils blistered the Red’s bullpen for 6 more runs to rout the Reds in the series final by a 12-5 score on Thursday.
The win, coupled with a Mets day off, left the Phillies’ hold on 1st place in the NL East at 1 1/2 games.
A day can often make a big difference in team offense. Whereas shortstop Jimmy Rollins and 2nd baseman Chase Utley were a collective 0-8 on Wednesday against Aaron Harang, the same twosome, the top of the Phillies lineup supplied 7 of the Phillies 14 hits and drove in 5 of their 12 runs. And the big guns, Utley, leftfielder Raul Ibanez, and 1st baseman Ryan Howard each solo homered, as did 3rd baseman Greg Dobbs.
For four innings, Blanton was impressive. He was continuously ahead in the count and struck out 4, getting 2 strikeouts each in the second and third innings. But then, holding a 6-0 lead in the fifth, Blanton’s roof caved in.
With 1 out and Reds runners on 2nd and 3rd base, centerfielder Willy Taveras lined an RBI single to leftfield. 3rd baseman Adam Rosales followed by grounding out to shortstop driving in the Reds 2nd run snd moving Taveras to 2nd base. After Blanton walked rightfielder Jay Bruce, Phillips lined Blanton’s 1-1 pitch for a 3 run homer to leftfield capping the Reds scoring. Blanton got the side out in the fifth with another ground out and was credited with the win in a 97 pitch, 5 run, 7 hit outing.
Owings lasted 3 innings, having thrown 71 pitches and giving up 5 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3 while being charged with the loss.
With Cincinnati having narrowed the score to 6-5, the Phils offense opened up again, bludgeoning the Reds bullpen, scoring 1 run in the sixth, 4 in the seventh and their final run, on Ibanez’s 15th homer, in the eighth.
Meanwhile, after Blanton was replaced to start the sixth, 4 Phillies relief pitchers shut down the Reds over the final four innings giving up only 2 hits, although walking four. Chan Ho Park made his bullpen debut in the eighth inning by wlaking 2 and striking out 1 in shutting the Reds down. Rookie lefthanded reliever Sergio Escalona had a perfect 3 up, 3 down 13 pitch ninth inning to end the game.
For all of the scores of Thursday’s games, click here.
Following the Reds, the Phils head to New York, this time taking on the Yankees in a 3 game weekend series in the new Yankee Stadium.
In Friday’s opener, Brett Myers hopes for a continuation of the success of his last 2 outings. He is opposed by A.J. Barnett who has had rough going so far for the Yanks.
Saturday’s game 2 is a battle of lefthanders as young J.A. Happ makes his 2009 starting debut for the Phils. He is opposed by veteran 37 year old Andy Pettitte.
For all of Friday’s and Saturday’s games, click here and here.
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