Game Recap:
A 78 minute rain delay and a bullpen collapse still couldn't keep the Phillies from winning their seventh straight game, this one coming in extra innings.
What went right?
Chase Utley was 2-6 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI.
Jayson Werth was 2-6 with two RBI, including the game winning single in the 12th inning.
Jimmy Rollins went 2-6 and scored twice.
Ryan Howard was 2-6 and scored once.
Raul Ibanez went 2-3 and scored a run.
Cole Hamels was great before the rain delay hit, allowing one run on four hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked one.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino went 0-5.
The bullpen fell apart in the seventh and eighth innings, allowing three runs in those two innings. Chan Ho Park, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin couldn't keep the Marlins from tying the game.
Game Analysis:
Boy, a game where Cole Hamels is shutting down the opposing team is supposed to be easier than that, right? Through five innings, Hamels looked every bit like the World Series MVP last night. Aside from a leadoff home run, Cole had the Marlins guessing at every last pitch he threw, and it looked like he was well on his way to picking up his sixth win of the season. Of course, Mother Nature and the bullpen got in the way of that, but the Phillies would hold on and win, despite some heart stopping moments from Brad Lidge in the 12th.
It wasn't the prettiest win in the world, but they all count the same. Chase Utley looked great, starting things off with a home run in the first inning, then driving in Jimmy Rollins with the go ahead run in the 12th. Jayson Werth responded well to the challenge in the 12th inning after the Marlins intentionally walked Paul freaking Bako to get to him. Nice move there, Florida. Plus, he had another RBI in the fourth inning, so after a rough stretch, it looks like he may have gotten himself back into a groove last night.
So far, so good for the second half of the season. The Phillies are starting to look like the defending champs, and the Marlins look like the young team that's still a few years away. After dropping the first two games of this series, it will be interesting to see how the Marlins respond. If I were on the Phillies, I'd want to choke the life out of them now. Just push them so far back that the Mets have to deal with them in fourth place. That's what I'd want by the end of this weekend, and hopefully it will happen.
In half an hour, the Phillies play again. Joe Blanton (6-4, 4.44 ERA) goes against Josh Johnson (8-2, 2.74 ERA). Let's see if the Phils can take out an All Star tonight.
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