Blanton, Werth Lead Phillies Past Pirates in Series Opener
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Phillies starter Joe Blanton went 7 1/3 innings in his 2nd straight excellent outing, his 3rd strong game in 4 starts. Rightfielder Jayson Werth, having just been designated as manager Charlie Manuel’s discretionary choice to be an All-Star in NL, slammed a 2 out, 2 run double off of Pirates’ lefthander Zach Duke to cap a Phillies 3 run third inning and closer Brad Lidge notched his 18th save despite giving up a 2 out ninth inning homer as Blanton and Werth led Phillies past the Pirates by a 3-2 score in Friday’s series opener.
With the win, the Phils increased their lead over the 2nd place Florida Marlins to 3 full games as the Marlins were pounded and shut out by Arizona on Friday. Atlanta remained in 3rd place by 4 games by beating the Colorado Rockies. In that game, Rockies’ pitcher Alan Embree, who recorded a win earlier in the week without having thrown a pitch, went down for the season after being struck by a line drive which fracturing his right tibia in the seventh inning. The 4th place Mets, meanwhile, slipped to 6 1/2 games off the pace as they were shut out by the Cincinnati Reds.
Blanton pitched a gutty ballgame to register his 6th win, only giving up a 2 out first inning solo homer by leftfielder Garrett Jones although the Pirates had runners on in four of the 7 1/3 innings that Blanton pitched. He threw 102 pitches giving up 4 hits, walking 1, hitting a batsman and striking out 6.
Jones staked lefthander Duke to the early 1-0 lead, but the Phils came on to get 3 runs in the third inning. With 2 out in the inning, All-Star centerfielder Shane Victorino, who went 3 for 4 for the game, singled to leftfield. Another All-Star, 2nd baseman Chase Utley followed singling to centerfield. But the Flyin’ Hawaiian came around to score on a close play at the plate and Utley made it all the way to 3rd base as the ball got away from centerfielder Andrew McCutchen. Duke then walked 1st baseman Ryan Howard putting runners at the corners. Werth, the newest All-Star, followed by slamming a double to the gap in left centerfield scoring Utley as well as the slow-footed Howard.
Blanton gutted it out through men-on situations in the fourth and fifth innings although his stiffest test was with 2 out in the third when he gave up a single, followed by throwing a wild pitch and issuing his only walk of the game the next hitter. With 2 on, Blanton got the side out inducing a grounder to the mound.
Blanton went clean in the sixth and seventh innings. But when 2nd baseman Freddy Sanchez doubled to leftfield with 1 down in the eighth, Blanton was shower-bound as lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero came on and got 2 grounders to retire the side. After Romero got the 1st out in the ninth on a ground ball to 1st base, Manuel went to Lidge to close out the game.
After Lidge struck out 1st baseman Adam LaRoche, he coughed up a rightfield solo shot to rightfielder Brandon Moss to narrow the score to 3-2. Shortstop Jack Wilson followed with a single to leftfield but Lidge struck out pinch hitter Delwyn Young to end it and record save #18 as the Phils won their 7th of their last 8 games.
In all fairness, losing pitcher Zach Duke pitched a fine game as well in completing his 3rd game of the season, but lacked offensive support. He threw 115 pitches giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 3, striking out 6 and keeping the ball in the park against an offense which sports four 20 or more homer hitters just before All-Star break.
In other team news, leftfielder Raul Ibanez returned to the active roster on Friday and was available to pinch hit, but did not play. The AP recap for Yahoo sports reports:
Manuel said the outfielder would be in the starting lineup Saturday.
Meanwhile, Phillies Nation reports that the Phillies put catcher Chris Coste on waivers on Friday and that he was claimed by the Houston Astros. Hard to figure why the front office would deplete an already weak bench by parting with Coste. As things stand now, when you get past Greg Dobbs
and Matt Stairs, you’re left with no-bats Eric Bruntlett, Paul Bako and young rookie John Mayberry Jr. who needs more seasoning.
Still no word on the status of any deal with Pedro Martinez except that acquiring him could be a precursor to a blockbuster which could bring Roy Halladay to town. As good as Halladay is, I’m kind of shaky about parting with young lefthander J.A. Happ who would inevitably be demanded by Toronto in any deal for Halladay. I worry about the possiblility of the front office out-smarting themselves going for a guy [Halladay] who could demand mega-bucks next season. I guess that I’m also sentimental about Happ and his late-season role on last season’s championship team. I like the way he’s pitched thus far this season — 5-0 with a 3.04 ERA and am also concerned that they brought in Rodrigo Lopez as a short-timer who won’t be around in the stretch despite 2 fine starts since his call-up. We may know more by All-Star break, if not sooner.
For the scores of all of Friday’s games, click here.
On Saturday, ace lefthander Cole Hamels, coming off a masterful 1 run, 3 hit 7 inning effort in the Cincinnati opener, is opposed by Ross Ohlendorf in game 2.
For all of Saturday’s games, click here.
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