Skipper Charlie Manuel stacked the lineup with left handed bats against Florida starter Anibal Sanchez as the young Marlins starter has struggled big time against lefties but has held opposing right hand hitters to a batting average under .200. The Phillies jumped out early as Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a single, stole second, went to third on an errant throw by the catcher and scored on a single by Chase Utley. Ryan Howard then plated Utley with a screaming double to the right center field wall. Phillies starter Joe Blanton gave the lead right back though in the second as he issued two consecutive walks and paid for it as the Marlins used a sacrifice fly and ground out to tie the game!
The Fightins bounced Sanchez from the game in the second as Matt Stairs walked, went to third on a double by Carlos Ruiz and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blanton. Ruiz scored on a single by Jimmy Rollins. Sanchez then walked Utley and his night was over! Ryan Howard greeted lefty reliever Mark Hendrickson with a single up the middle to score Rollins to put the Phillies up by three. Once again Blanton gave it right back as he walked the leadoff hitter again and Mike Jacobs took him way deep to right field to make the count 5 to 4 after only 2 and 1/2 innings of play. It only took 1 and 1/4 hours to record the first 15 outs !
That score held thru five frames albeit Blanton struggled with control throughout. He was replaced by Chad Durbin in the sixth inning. Durbin pitched two scoreless innings. In the Phillies seventh Shane Victorino and Chase Utley reached base on a walk and Hit by Pitch after Rollins had grounded out. Ryan Howard then hit a ground ball to second that could have been an inning ending double play had Utley not went hard into the bag preventing Marlin shortstop Hanley Ramirez from making a throw…………… big little thing that produces wins! Jayson Werth then blasted a three run home run to center field to put the Phils up by four! He would not have even batted if not for the all out hustle and slide of Mr. Utley !
J.C. Romero came into the eighth, got one out but then gave two right back as he issued a walk and then saw Cody Ross slam a fast ball into the left field seats. Charlie then went to Ryan Madson and he got one out before getting slammed for a double by Josh Willingham. Charlie came out once again and brought in Scott Eyre who threw one pitch to end the inning. Whatever the cost of getting Kyle Farnsworth from the Tigers was in my opinion would have been worth it as I do not know how long Charlie can piece together the eighth inning hold situations !
Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning and earned his 35th save in 35 tries despite some heart thumping as Florida put two runners on, Lidge struck out the last two batters to end it. The Phillies are now 65 and 0 when leading after eight. Jimmy Rollins scored three runs and had three stolen bases in this one as he collected three hits, another of the key little things, J-Roll set the table and put the pressure on the Fish throughout.
Chatter
The one and two thirds outing was the shortest of the 24 year old Anibal Sanchez’s career. He is coming off shoulder surgery and obviously is still not right with his mechanics. Kyle Kendrick gets a shot at redemption tommorrow night as he gets the start against the Fish. Kendrick usually pitches well at home, his struggles have been all on the road thus far, I expect the young man to step up as he is an 11 game winner so far this year therefore has the ability……….. just has to keep the sinker down as these Marlins swing from the heels and are definitely all or nothing hitters. Third base coach Steve Smith was back in the box after serving a two game suspension for being run from a game in Washington last week, Lehigh Valley triple A manager Dave Humpert had filled in for Smith in New York for the first two games of that series. Ryan Howard had another mental block on a throwing play in this game in the second inning when he had a play at home but did not make the throw opting instead to let a run score and tag the runner coming to first, don’t know what it is but he has to cut it loose !
