(Picture: Andrew Gillen)
After returning home from Boston last week, the Phillies
dropped three of four against the Red Sox and Brewers. They sat four games
under .500 and seemed doomed for a stretch of disappointing games, even with a
white-hot Domonic Brown. However, two quick wins against Milwaukee and Miami
put the Phillies back on some sort of crooked track. This “streak” could help
boost the Phillies in the upcoming series against sub-par teams. Taking the
mound tonight was Jonathan Pettibone, and if he could replicate his numbers
from his first start against the Marlins (6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 1 ER on May 3), the
Phillies would be in good shape. Opposing them, though, was Marlin Ricky
Nolasco, who has been very successful in his career at Citizens Bank Park.
Juan Pierre began the game with his tenth hit against the
Phillies this season, a single to right field. The man with 600+ career stolen
bases took off for another, and probably should have gotten it. Second base
umpire Bob Davidson called Pierre out on an apparent Jimmy Rollins tag, but
replays showed no contact between player and glove. Juan was visibly upset, but
made no big fuss. The next two batters grounded out to end the frame.
Let
me just take a quick moment to reflect on the outstanding character that is
Juan Pierre. Even after the blown call, Pierre congratulated J-Roll™ on the
play and returned to the dugout. I truly wish Juan had spent more time with the
Phillies, because he is an all-time honorable player.
The Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the first.
Marcell Ozuna continued to hit the ball extremely hard, this
time over Michael Young’s head and down the line for a double. Derek Dietrich followed
with a bloop single to left, one that held Ozuna at third. A misthrow by
Domonic Brown allowed Deitrich to move to second. A Casey Kotchman ground ball
up the middle resulted in an out and the first run of the game. With a runner
at third and only one out, Pettibone worked out of the jam with two groundouts
and held the Marlins to just one run. 1-0 Marlins.
The Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the second.
Jonathan Pettibone continued to allow baserunners, as Ed
Lucas managed to single to center field. However, Pettibone was able to find his
rhythm and record the three necessary outs.
The Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the third.
Some adjustments may have been made by Pettibone, as he
worked a solid 1-2-3 fourth inning.
The Phillies went down 1-… Michael Young records the
Phillies first hit of the game, a tough ground ball up the middle barely mishandled
by second baseman Deitrich. With Ryan Howard batting, Young stole his first
base of the season. Howard would then walk, but Brown popped out to end the
effort.
Pettibone threw a majority of his pitches in the fifth.
Adeiny Hechavarria singled to lead it off. E would have been out on his
attempted steal of second, but Rollins couldn’t handle the throw. Rob Brantly
promptly singled to score Hechavarria. A Nolasco sacrifice moved Brantly to
second, and yet another Juan Pierre single put runners on the corners. Pierre
got a well-deserved stolen base, and Ed Lucas worked a walk to load the bases.
With his back against the wall, Pettibone forced Chris Coghlan and Marcell Ozuna
to fly out and stop the bleeding. 2-0 Marlins.
The Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the fifth.
A walk to Casey Kotchman was the only damage to Pettibone in
the sixth. A double play erased any danger.
Kevin Frandsen did pinch hit for Pettibone in the sixth, and
worked a walk off Nolasco. However, two fielder’s choices and a line out left
the Phillies still scoreless.
Jeremy Horst came in to relieve Pettibone. He managed
strikeouts to the first two batters he faced, then calmed the bat of Juan
Pierre with a ground out.
Ricky Nolasco’s one-hitter would come to an end in the seventh.
Ryan Howard drove a ball off the right field wall for a double. Dom Brown worked
an impressive nine-pitch at bat, but struck out swinging. Delmon Young then
crushed one to the angle in center field, doubling (and just avoiding fan
interference) to score Howard and the Phillies’ first run of the night. After
Freddy Galvis struck out, Erik Kratz (now referred to as EK) valiantly galloped
in from the bullpen to pinch hit for Humberto FatQuintero. EK just missed a
homerun to right, but did double to bring home Delmon and tie the game. Laynce
Nix was called on to pinch hit for Horst, but was called back when lefty Mike
Dunn relieved Nolasco. John Mayberry Jr. struck out, but remained in the game
to play right. EK stayed in to catch. 2-2 game.
Mike Adams was the next reliever out for the Phillies, and
he gave up an Ed Lucas single to begin his appearance. Coghlan grounded out,
Ozuna was hit by a pitch, and Deitrich grounded out to put two in scoring position
with two out. Casey Kotchman grounded into an excellent play by Galvis and
Howard to end the threat.
Ben Revere was able to reach base when Kotchman dropped the
throw. Michael Young would then ground to third, and it originally looked like
a fielder’s choice. However, Bob Davidson made another mistake, this time
calling Ben Revere for interference at second, and both runners were out. Replays
should no obvious attempts of Revere grabbing Deitrich, and the crowd continued
to let Davidson know by showering him with boos through the ninth inning.
Rollins would walk, but Howard flied to left to end it.
A sight for sore eyes appeared in the ninth, as Jonathan
Papelbon made his return to the mound after a stomach virus kept him out of
action. He worked a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts. Dom Brown would
lead off the ninth looking to end the game.
Fan favorite (?) Chad Qualls took the mound for the Marlins in
the ninth. After running a 3-0 count on Dom, a ground out erased the threat.
Cesar Hernandez pinch hit for Papelbon and worked an infield single. Freddy Galvis would single to put two runners on base. EK would come up again, but couldn't work his magic anymore. A double play would send the game to extra innings.
Antonio Bastardo was summoned to begin the tenth. He gave up a well-earned walk to thorn-inthe-Phillies-side Juan Pierre, who ws sacrificed to second and stole third. He then stole home on a Bastardo wild pitch. Probably shouldn't have praised him earlier. Anyway, 3-2 Marlins.
John Mayberry looked to bring life back to the Phillies against Steve Cishek in the tenth, and he did. A deep homerun to center field tied the game at 3. After two outs, Rollins worked a walk. Lefty Dan Jennings would come on to pitch to Howard. When a pitch got away from Brantly, Rollins attempted to steal second, but was thrown out. To the eleventh we go.
Mike Stutes replaced Antonio Bastardo in the inning. He threw a few close pitches, one that was caught in deep right-center by Revere, but escaped unscathed.
Edgar Olmos pitched next for the Marlins, and Howard nearly took him deep. Back spin kept it in the park, though. Brown would reach first on a fielding error by Olmos. Kyle Kendrick came on to pinch hit for Stutes, and he sacrificed Brown into scoring position. Freddy Galvis was intentionally walked to get to EK (Erik Kratz for those not keeping up), who then worked a walk to load the bases. John Mayberry Jr. was up again, after homering to tie it in the tenth, and hit a grand slam to send everyone home happy.
This game was incredible. The fans, for whatever reason,
have been great the last few games, and were on top of everything tonight. The
boos for this umpiring crew lasted an inning and a half, showing some fans
still remain interested. As far as gameplay goes, the score was close all
night, and every at bat was important (even if it all happened against the
Marlins). Most fans even stayed for the extras. Then, JMJ not only tied it with a homer, but win it in extras to satisfy everyone on Carlos Ruiz Bobblehead night. Tomorrow, the Phillies seek a 3-game sweep of the Marlins when Cole Hamels takes on Jacob Turner in 1:05 afternoon action.
