Game Recap:
Cole Hamels pitched seven innings of one run baseball and Raul Ibanez launched a two run home run to push the Phillies past the Red Sox in the last game of their three game series.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 2-4.
Ryan Howard was 1-4 with a run scored.
Jayson Werth went 1-3 with an RBI, two stolen bases and two runs scored.
Raul Ibanez was 1-4 and had a two run home run.
Ben Francisco managed to be productive, as he was 1-3 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Juan Castro was 1-4 with an RBI.
Cole Hamels pitched seven innings and got the win, allowing one run on five hits. He walked two and struck out eight.
Brad Lidge worked the final two outs of the ninth inning, and though he gave up a hit, he still nailed down his fourth save of the year.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-3.
Chase Utley went 0-3.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3 and had a passed ball in the ninth inning that allowed a run to score.
J.C. Romero got into some trouble in the ninth inning, only recording one out while allowing two runs on two hits and a walk. Neither run was really his fault, but had he recorded the outs, they wouldn't have scored.
Game Analysis:
Nothing like some good pitching to finally end a bad stretch of games. After getting the short end of the stick in his last three starts, Cole Hamels finally got a bit of run support from his offense, and today, that made all the difference. Hamels was lights out through seven innings, and though the bullpen ran into a little trouble in the ninth inning, the Phillies held on for a 5-3 win against the Boston Red Sox.
It is so nice to see Cole Hamels actually pitching like he did back in 2008 again. Aside from his rain shortened start against the Braves in Atlanta, Hamels has gone into the sixth inning or later in every game but one since April 12, and has been getting better as the season has gone on. He's allowed three runs or fewer in every start since April and, if not for lack of run support, would look much better than his 6-5 record shows right now. Today, it was more of the same from Hamels, who took an early shot in the form of an Adrian Beltre home run, and kept going. After giving up the home run, Hamels struck out the next four batters he faced, which is something he wouldn't have been able to do even last season. It seems like his mental output is much better this year than it was back last season, and he's healthier than he's been since the 2008 season as well. All of that is contributing to a solid season so far this year, and a 6-5 record with an ERA under 4.00 is showing people how little support he's getting from the offense.
Luckily, he got that support today, and it came shortly after the home run. After being shut down yesterday and through three innings today, the Phils came up swinging in the fourth inning. Five straight Phils reached base, with Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Juan Castro driving in runs. That would end up being all the Phillies needed today, but Werth wasn't done with the show on offense today. Just a few days removed from having questions raised about his play during a contract season, Werth responded with an RBI today, and then he manufactured a big insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Against Ramon Ramirez, Werth walked and then proceeded to steal second base on a strikeout from Ibanez and third while Ben Francisco was batting. Francisco cashed in on the chance with a sacrifice fly to bring in Werth. That's the kind of play that this team needs right now. The Phillies need players willing to steal two bases to set up runs, and Werth at least sent a message with that play today. If he can keep that up and maybe spur some of his teammates on, maybe this team can get back on the right track again.
It's still far too soon to say if this win is going to end the tailspin that this team has been in, but at least the Phillies came out of Boston with a win and a solid pitching performance from Cole Hamels. The bats looked decent against Tim Wakefield, and Jayson Werth's effort on the basepaths in the ninth inning gets a huge thumbs up. Add to that the fact the Brad Lidge got out of trouble again in the ninth inning, and it was a good day for the Phillies. There haven't been many of these lately for the two time National League champions.
Tomorrow night, it's a World Series rematch as the Phillies head to Yankee Stadium. Roy Halladay (8-4, 1.96 ERA) will get the ball for the Phils, and C.C. Sabathia (6-3, 4.01 ERA) is on the hill for the Yankees.
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