It appears that I should bench Pat Burrell more often on my fantasy team. After cooling off considerably, Burrell has gone deep in each of the last two games. It was exactly 2 games ago that I finally decided to go with Adrian Gonzalez as my utility hitter rather than Burrell.
Burrell’s solo, pinch-hit homerun in the top of the 8th inning gave the Phillies a 1-run lead. Chase Utley later drove in pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett to get the score to 7-5 Phillies. Tom Gordon and Brad Lidge then came in to do what they have been doing very well: closing out the last two innings in games. Chad Durbin got the win with his inning of work in the 7th.
The top 5 of the lineup was off the charts going a combined 11-23. Leading the way, and more notably getting his season average above .200 was Ryan Howard. He went 3-5 with a homerun, a double, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs scored.
Burrell, who did not start because of his slump and the fact that right-hander ace Roy Oswalt was starting for the Astros, got his pinch hit for Phillie pinch-hit specialist Greg Dobbs. Dobbs got the start in left field for Burrell.
Last night the story was not as sweet. Despite Burrell going 2-4 with another homerun, and Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino going a combined 5-10, the Phillies lost 4-3. Things got interesting, and scary in the 9th inning. Burrell lead off with a double. Geoff Jenkins moved him over to 3rd on a groundball. Then Pedro Feliz was able to drive Burrell in. The way it happened was scary though. Feliz hit a liner right back up the middle off of Houston closer Jose Valverde. Valverde got his glove on it, but only deflected it. The problem was that he deflected it into the side of his face/head. Burrell didn’t know what to do at first but came home after the ball fell. Valverde got checked out for awhile, but somehow remained in the game.
Carlos Ruiz, the next batter, then singled. Chris Coste struck out. Then Jimmy Rollins hit an RBI double driving in Feliz. With runners on second and third, 2 outs, trailing by a run, Shane Victorino came to the plate against a pitcher who was probably not all there. Sadly Victorino flew out to center to end the game.
