Posted by Danielle Wilson
Vance Worley…fifth ace? This kid can pitch like one, and hit like Cole Hamels. The 23-year-old righty started tonight for the Phillies against Jason Marquis, and Worley pitched just as well, if not better than Joe Blanton in his second replacement start.
The Phillies scored the first run of the game in the fifth inning, starting with a solo home run for Raul Ibanez, just his second of the year. With the bases loaded (Valdez grounded into force out, Worley singled, Rollins walked), Shane Victorino scored Valdez on an RBI single. Placido Polanco popped up a sacrifice fly to score Vance Worley, and the Phillies had a 3-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Adam LaRoche doubled to score Danny Espinosa, and that was the first run that Vance Worley has allowed in the past 21 innings, dating back to September of 2010. But, it was the last inning that he would allow. Vance was finished after six, his line: four hits, one run, seven strikeouts. His earned run average is 0.75 in two starts. This was most likely his last start for a long time, due to Joe Blanton's return. What a shame.
The Phils made sure that Vance could not possibly lose this one. In the bottom of the sixth, Ben Francisco walked, Raul and Schneider both singled, and Wilson Valdez singled to score Ben. Jimmy Rollins singled to score Raul after a pitching change (are they back to singling the opposing pitcher to death?) Shane reached second on a throwing error, which scored Schneider and Valdez. 7-1 lead, boom.
J.C. Romero and Michael Stutes pitched back to back scoreless innings, but Danys Baez ruined that scoreless streak while trying to close it out. He allowed a three-run home run to Danny Espinosa (this was before allowing a single to Matt Stairs, his 100th career pinch hit) but grounded out Ian Desmond to end the game. Phillies win it 7-4, Worley took the win, Phillies take the series, and will go for the sweep tomorrow with Halladay on the mound.
