Charlie Manuel has a saying that when the weather gets warm that it becomes “Hittin Season” as the air is still and humid and the ball pops off the bat. Usually in those conditions the scores are high and the home runs aplenty in Citizens Bank Park……..well “Hittin Season” came a bit early as the Washington Nationals and the Phillies pounded each other in a hitting barrage ending in a 13 to 11 winning Phillies conclusion.
Joe Blanton started the game well for the Fightin’s as he struck out the side in the first inning but it was not a vision of things to come. Blanton got tagged for six runs and eight hits and could only last 4 and 1/3 innings. Scott Eyre also got tagged for four runs in relief as the Phillies had to use five relievers in the game. Washington smoked five home runs including two long blasts by Ryan Zimmerman. Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn and Elijah Dukes also belted taters.
The Fightins did some “hittin” on thier own. Ryan Howard belted a grand slam in the fifth inning to bring the game to a 6 all tie. The Fightins fell behind again 11 to 7 but the team kept battling and with the count 11 to 9 and bases juiced in the eighth Raul Ibanez hit another grand slamalie to put the game away !
Ryan Madson pitched the ninth frame to earn his first save of the season and the Fightins won another come from behind effort ! Ibanez and Jimmie Rollins each had three hit ballgames, great to see J-Roll bust out of his season long slump. Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz each had two hit ballgames. The Phillies pounded out 14 hits while the Nationals had 12………… “Hittin Season” indeed.
Chatter
Brad Lidge did not even warm up in this one and the ninth was indeed a save situation, not sure if it was just to rest him from throwing over 40 pitches on Saturday or if there is a problem otherwise. Stay tuned, Madson was chucking in the high 90′s in this one again but we need them both at the back end to win ballgames against the tough teams.
Clay Condrey threw well in relief again albeit he did walk in a run in an inherited bases loaded jam. Condrey has three wins on the season and his sinker has been really good in the early season.
