Game Recap:
Carlos Ruiz hit a game winning home run in the top of the 10th inning to give the Phillies a sweep over the Florida Marlins and push the Phils to 12 games over .500 for the first time this season.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 3-5 with a run scored.
Raul Ibanez continued his hitting streak, going 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Jayson Werth was 2-5 with an RBI.
Carlos Ruiz went 3-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
Roy Oswalt looked much better in his second start as a Phillie, going 6.1 innings while allowing just two runs on three hits. He did walk four batters, but struck out five.
Brad Lidge gave up a hit in the bottom of the tenth, but retired the next three batters in order to get the save.
What went wrong?
Wilson Valdez went 0-2 before being replaced by Greg Dobbs...who also went 0-2.
J.C. Romero came in to pitch in the seventh inning and couldn't record a single out. He ended up giving up two runs on a hit and two walks.
Game Analysis:
Going into the the of the ninth inning tonight, the story of the game was going to be how the Phillies had wasted a great second start from Roy Oswalt. After Oswalt had kept the Marlins off the board in six and a third innings of work, J.C. Romero allowed two runs to be charged to Oswalt, and then let two more cross the plate as well. Not only did that cost Oswalt his first win as a member of the Phillies, but it put the Phils in position to lose to Florida and move three games behind the Braves in the National League East. Instead, the Phils got to Leo Nunez for the second game in a row, and Carlos Ruiz finished things off with a home run off of Will Ohman in the tenth inning that gave the Phillies the sweep.
For someone who was probably expecting a bit more run support out of Houston, Roy Oswalt has to be feeling the same pinch that he had as a member of the Astros. So far in two starts, the Phillies have scored three runs while he's been on the mound. In the first game, Oswalt didn't pitch well, and the game was lost early. Tonight, he kept the Marlins from scoring through his time in the game, despite walking four batters. The only two runs that got charged to him came thanks to J.C. Romero. Oswalt just looked sharper tonight. He wasn't thinking too much out on the mound, and he looked like the pitcher that the Phillies traded for. He didn't overthrow his pitches or get too worked up.
It was just a solid outing from him, and that's what the Phillies need. They don't need a pitcher that thinks he has to go out and throw a perfect game each and every time he steps on the mound. They just need a pitcher that's going to hold the opposing offense to two or three runs and pitch six or seven innings a game. Oswalt doesn't have to be the ace here. That's what Roy Halladay is for. Hell, the way Cole Hamels has pitched this season, Oswalt doesn't even have to be a number two starter. What he can be though is the best number three pitcher in baseball. It might not be what he's used to, but it's at the very least what the Phillies want from him. As long as he can go out there and pitch like he did tonight, he's going to be fine in Philadelphia. Sure, he's going to have a bad game or two, but every pitcher does. No one is perfect.
At least after Oswalt left the game, the offense decided to pick up the slack. Save for a two run double by Carlos Ruiz, the Phillies couldn't get anything going off of Chris Volstad, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. The Phils left 11 men on base during the game tonight, including leaving the bases loaded twice whle Volstad was on the mound. At least the Phillies were able to take advantage of a Hanley Ramirez error in the ninth inning that allowed them to tie the game, but they should have been able to plate the go ahead run in the ninth. There is no excuse for having Jayson Werth picked off of second base for the second out in the ninth innng and then having Domonic Brown caught stealing second for the third out. There are already two men on, two runs have crossed the plate, and you're facing a pitcher that you've hit hard two nights in a row now. Let the offense do their job. You don't have to steal third in the ninth inning. You should be running as soon as you see that the ball is going to be in play. A single should score you from second, especially with Werth running out there.
The silver lining to the ending of the top of the ninth was that the Phillies eventually would win the game, thanks to another hit from Carlos Ruiz. In the three games in Florida, Ruiz picked up eight hits, six RBI and two home runs. That's a good week for him most of the time, and that came in the last three games. It might just have been how he was seeing the ball from the Marlins, but he was red hot over these last three games. Couple that with the suddenly white hot Raul Ibanez, and the Phillies actually have an offensive presence out on the field, even with Ryan Howard on the disabled list. So far, it's been three games and three wins. It's just what the Phils needed, and they're actually at a season high 12 games over .500 at the moment. Things are starting to come together at the right time, and it's happening without the biggest bat in the lineup. Somehow, it doesn't seem like anyone is going to ask questions.
Tomorrow night, the Phils come home after their 4-2 road trip to take on the New York Mets. Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.86 ERA) goes for the Phillies, while the Mets counter with Jon Niese (7-5, 3.78 ERA).
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