Joe Blanton made start number 13 for the Phillies in the opening game of the last series of the regular season in drizzly and cool weather conditions, Blanton came out and shut the Nats down in order to start the game. Ryan Howard then gave Blanton an early lead by belting his 48th home run of the season in the first inning scoring Chase Utley and Jayson Werth in front of him. Howard smoked the ball to dead center field and cut it thru a super strong wind to get it out of the park!
Washington scored one in the second on an RBI single by rookie catcher Luke Montz. It iwas his first major league run batted in. The Fightins knocked Nats starter Colin Ballistar out of the game by scoring four times in the second as Chase Utley belted a bases loaded double to score Greg Dobbs, Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth. Ryan Howard then scored Utley with a double of his own.
The Nationals scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning as Howard booted a ground ball hit by Pete Orr. They added yet another in the sixth as Kory Casto apparently hit a home run to right field but it was disputed as a fan leaned over the fence. It marked the first time in a Phillies game where the umpires chose to review a replay to determine if the call would stand, after review they decided it was a home run. Joe Blanton was pulled after the sixth, he did a credible job giving up four runs, two earned on five hits and left with a 7-4 lead.
Scott Eyre pitched a perfect seventh striking out two, J-Roll made a tremendous bare hand pick and throw on a ground ball for the third out of the inning ! The Fightins scored one more in the eighth as Chase Utley scored on a passed ball. Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero combined to pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning and threw a perfect inning striking out two batters.
The Phillies came out very focused in this game led by the big fella Ryan Howard, when they are focused like they were in this one they are indeed a tough crew to beat. With the Phillies win and the Mets loss to Florida in New York the magic number for the division is now one! At the least the Phillies have now clinched a tie for the division crown, they can win it on the field tommorrow afternoon in the second game of the series against the Nats………… what better pitcher to have that honor this season than one Mr. Jamie Moyer!
Chatter
Ryan Howard set another new team record when he drove in his 32nd run of the month, that is the most in club history for the last month of regular season play. Another team record was set by the fans, it marked the 48th sellout of the season, close to 3.3 million folks have come thru the turnstiles this season. At an average modest rate of say $25 per ticket that would generate approximately $80 million in revenue. I’d say the fans have done their part to justify keeping good players on payroll and going after some others this offseason via free agency !
Charlie Manuel got ejected in the ninth argueing a call on an appeal for what should have been a strike out. The fans chorused “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie!”……………… good to hear the support for the big fella.
