Tonight's
matchup saw former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee take on household name Tony
Cigrani at Citizens Bank Park. Lee was looking to score his fifth win of the
season, while Cigrani aimed to remain undefeated. Both pitchers have been
formidable all season, so a pitching duel seemed certain. A six-game winning streak was on the line for the Reds. Here's how the
Phillies-Reds game broke down.
Cliff
began the game with a single and a walk in the first, but was able to battle
out of the frame unscathed. Save for a Michael Young walk, Cigrani held his own
in the bottom of the inning.
The
Reds offensive ability continued to show in the next inning, as Devin Mesoraco
and Derrick Robinson both singled off of Lee. However, neither could be brought
back home. A 1-2-3 bottom of the second ensued for the 5-6-7 Phillies hitters.
While
Lee was able to quickly take care of the meat of the Reds lineup, Cigrani
couldn't do the same to the Phillies leadoff hitter. Jimmy Rollins would score
his 1200 run as a Phillie when he homered in the third inning. Cliff Lee was on
base for the historic hit, and it put the Phillies ahead 2-0.
In
the fourth inning, only Carlos Ruiz could get on base. His single was the solo
hit for either squad in the inning. Lee would once again perform well in the
fifth, holding the Reds to just one hit in the top half while doubling to lead
off the bottom. A Michael Young triple would plate the run, and the Good Guys
now led it 3-0.
Refusing
to be shut out, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce halted Lee's cruise control.
Phillips doubled to begin the sixth, and was followed quickly by a Bruce
homerun. Lee finished off the rest of the inning, but it was now 3-2 Phillies.
Logan Ondrusek came on to pitch for the Reds, and promptly shut down the Phils in the bottom of the sixth. Lee would then pitch a perfect seventh, which would then be followed by a perfect inning by new Reds pitcher Sam LeCure.
Antonio Bastardo came in to pitch for Lee in the eighth, and looked to hold the game for Papelbon in the ninth. However, the first batter of the inning, Joey Votto, homered to tie the ball game, 3-3. Justin DeFratus would then finish off the rest of the inning.
In an effort to break the tie, the Phils would load the bases in the bottom half. A walk to Michael Young, an infield single (ON A SORT-OF BUNT) by Ryan Howard, and a hit-by-pitch to Delmon Young set the scene for Domonic Brown. Jonathan Broxton, a common nemesis for the Phillies, still could not pitch here in Philly. It wasn't much, but Brown was able to force a catching error on Brandon Phillips, scoring Michael Young. A sacrifice fly by Chooch in the next at bat scored Howard as well. 5-3 Phillies.
Jonathan Papelbon was then able to come on in an attempt to secure his eighth save of the season. A leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Xavier Paul went unnoticed, as he retired the rest of the offense and ended the game. Phillies win 5-3.
A very tough game for both teams ended well for the home squad, as the Phillies improved to 20-22 on the season and ended the Reds six-game winning streak. He wasn't able to notch his fifth win of the season, but Cliff Lee was his normal self, looking quite dominate at times. Justin DeFratus scored his second win of the season, Michael Young worked three walks, and the team scored in the clutch. All of these positives could catapult the team into winning the series, which continues tomorrow when Bronson Arroyo takes the mound against stand-out Kyle Kendrick. Make sure to note that tomorrow's game is a special 4:05 start.
Enjoy the win, and look forward to Kendrick in the game tomorrow!
