In what will be the closest series of the season, the Phillies split the two weekend games against the San Francisco Giants. 2 out of the three games in the series went into the 10th inning, and last nights game was won in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs.
Saturday the Giants scored in the top of the 10th inning again. This time, however, they were able to keep their lead and win the game. The Phillies had 3 hits the whole game. Chase Utley had 2, while Geoff Jenkins had 1. Conveniently, both of them each had solo homeruns which accounted for both runs and RBIs. Matt Cain and Brett Myers battled as well as two pitchers can. Each pitched 7 innings and gave up 2 runs. Cain struck out 8, and Myers struck out 10. Both got a no decision, obviously.
Rudy Seanez gave up the winning run and was therefore tagged with the loss. Final score: SF 3- PHI 2
Sunday the Phillies won in the bottom of the 9th inning like I said. In a fitting fashion for how the Giants defense played all game, the game was run on an error. 5 out of the 6 Phillies runs were unearned.
Carlos Ruiz hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the game at 5 after Chad Durbin gave up 1 run in the top of the inning.
Twice the Phillies scored 2 runs in innings to take the lead only to have Cole Hamels give 2 back in the top of the next inning. It happened in the 5th/6th when the Phillies scored 2, then Hamels gave up a 2-run homer to Rich Aurilia in the next frame.
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell walked. With Howard on second, Geoff Jenkins hit a grounder to the second baseman who let it get under his glove. Howard scored when the catcher couldn’t hold on to the throw from the rightfielder. Brad Lidge got the win after retiring 3 batters in the top of the ninth. With the three hitters all making contact, the ball went a combined 70 feet with Ruiz making to putouts, and Lidge the other. Pat Burrell was 2-3 on the day with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs. Both Eric Bruntlett and Shane Victorino scored twice in the game.
Today the Phillies travel out to Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks. 45 year old Jamie Moyer (1-2, 4.50) takes the hill against 23 year old Max Scherzer. This will be Scherzer’s first career start and only his 2nd game compared to Moyer’s 557th career start. Scherzer made his debut and only major league appearance on April 29th. He pitched 4 1/3 innings in relief and struck out 7 batters without giving up any hits or walks.
Arizona has the best record in the league but just lost 2/3 to the Mets at home. Hopefully we can have the same fortune in our series.
