Stairs, Howard Homers, Bako’s Walk-off Single Lead Phillies Past Pirates
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Phillies’ ace lefthander Cole Hamels continues his up and down cycle and was pounded early in the game Saturday as Pittsburgh starter Ross Ohlendorf was staked to a 5-0 lead after 2 innings. Ohlendorf held the Phils socreless through five innings but was pounded for 3 runs in the sixth inning. But the Pirates, holding a 7-3 lead into the ninth inning, sent in closer Matt Capps to nail down the game. But Capps was pounded for homers by pinch hitter Matt Stairs and 1st baseman Ryan Howard amidst a five run ninth capped by a walk-off RBI single by catcher Paul Bako as the Phillies rallied to edge the Pirates by an 8-7 score.
With the win, the Phillies 8th in 9 games, they extended their 1st place lead in the NL East over the Florida to 4 games as the Marlins lost again on Saturday in Arizona. Atlanta and the Mets remained 5 and 6 1/2 games back respectively having both won their games.
The Pirates reached Hamels for 3 homers early. Hamels got the first 2 outs in the inning before leftfielder Garrett Jones reached him for a rightfield solo shot replaying his Friday first inning homer against Joe Blanton. Then catcher Ryan Doumit, who got 2 hits in the game, doubled to leftfield. Rightfielder Delwyn Young then pounded a 2 run homer off of Hamels and Pittsburgh led 3-0.
The Phillies tried to get something going in the bottom of the first as shortstop Jimmy Rollins reached Pittsburgh starter Ohlendorf for a lead-off double to rightfield, the first of 2 hits in 3 at bats to go along with 2 walks and 3 stolen bases. With 2 outs, Ohlendorf walked Howard and both Rollins and Howard executed a double-steal putting runners at 2nd and 3rd base. But leftfielder Raul Ibanez, in his 1st at bat since returning from the DL, fouled out to 1st base to end the inning.
3rd baseman Andy LaRoche opened the second inning with a right centerfield double. But Hamels got the next 2 hitters out on a foul out and ground out before centerfielder Andrew McCutchen slammed a 2 run shot to leftfield putting the Bucs up 5-0.
Meanwhile, Hamels settled down holding the Buc scoreless for the next four innngs, going clean on Pittsburgh in the fourth and sixth innings. Ohlendorf went clean on the Phils in the second inning. However, Phillies hitters managed to reach in each of the third through fifth innings but couldn’t produce.
Phillies Nation’s Amanda Orr picks things up in the Phils’ sixth inning:
The Phillies didn’t get to Ohlendorf until the sixth inning. In his first start since coming off the disabled list, Raul Ibanez’s RBI double put the Phillies on the board. Greg Dobbs’ sacrifice fly and Paul Bako’s RBI single made it a 5-3 game. Ohlendorf’s line: 5.2 innings, five hits, three earned runs, four walks, five strikeouts.
The bullpen was not able to have a “shutdown inning” in the seventh. Chad Durbin loaded the bases (with the help of few mental mistakes by third basemen Dobbs), and Scott Eyre could not clean up his mess. The Pirates extended their lead, 7-3.
Trailing in the ninth, the Phillies had no chance against Matt Capps. It would take a miracle. Matt Stairs hit a meaningless home run. 7-4. But was it? The rally caps broke out and the fans rose to their feet. They didn’t sit for the remainder of the game.
Jimmy Rollins walked and Chase Utley singled. With one out and two on, Ryan Howard gave… a preview of the Home Run Derby. His three-run home run tied the game at seven.
Ibanez followed with a double and Pedro Feliz singled. With runners at the corners and one out, Bako was due up, with Stairs on-deck. It was time for Bako to show why the Phillies kept him on the roster. Bako’s walk-off single scored Ibanez to cap off an unbelievable five-run ninth inning.
Bako was deservedly mobbed at first base by his teammates. The 8-7 come-from-behind win once again proved why to never give up on the Phightin’ Phils.
Hamels line was six innings, 90 pitches, 5 runs on 7 hits, including the 3 homers, no walks and 6 strikeouts. Ohlendorf gave up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 4 and striking out 5.
Reliever Tyler Walker pitched the ninth inning only giving up a 2 out single to Garrett Jones in recording his 1st win as a Phillie. Capps was charged with the loss for the Pirates.
For the scores of all of Saturday’s games, click here.
The Phillies hope to go into the All Star break having swept the Pirates. In Sunday’s series final, young lefthander J.A. Happ, in what may be a show-piece start prior to a possible deal with Toronto for Roy Halladay, opposes Virgil Vasquez for the Pirates.
For all of Sunday’s games, click here.
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