The Phillies and Giants went into the game with full knowledge that their starters were not likely to go deep into the game. So, the worst thing that could possibly happen for either side was an extra inning game. Therefore, the game went a whole 14 innings and almost six hours. The end did not go so well for the Phillies.
The Game: Roberto Hernandez seemed to be headed for a scoreless first inning after three batters. Despite allowing Hunter Pence to single as the leadoff hitter, Hernandez got both Joe Panik and Buster Posey to record outs. He managed to move Pablo Sandoval into a 1-1 count, but the burly third baseman took the third pitch of the at bat into left field past Grady Sizemore for an RBI double. Before the Phillies offense had a chance to bat, the team was down a run.
Back in his leadoff role, Ben Revere looked to spark the Phillies bats in the home half of the first. He'd do just that by singling into center field, then stealing second base, all before Jimmy Rollins finished his at bat. A free pass to J-Roll set up Chase Utley's RBI single, which scored Revere and put runners on the corners with nobody out. Both Ryan Howard and Grady Sizemore struck out, but sandwiched in between was a groundout for Marlon Byrd that allowed Rollins to score. After one full inning, the Phillies led it 2-1.
San Francisco stole back a run in the second, when Gregor Blanco worked a leadoff walk. On his attempted steal of second, Cameron Rupp's errant throw let Blanco move to third. The error came back to haunt the Phillies when Brandon Crawford's ground out was placed well enough to score Blanco, tying the game at two. The Giants would also score a single run in the fifth, giving them the lead. Hunter Pence was responsible, collecting home run number thirteen to lead it off. San Fran now led things 3-2.
The Phillies offense would have their best run of the night in the bottom of that fifth inning, even with Roberto Hernandez leading off with a strike out. Ben Revere recorded another single in the next at bat, and again helped light a fire under the team. Rollins was up again, and this time matched Pence with his thirteenth home run of the year. After Utley's fly out, Ryan Howard collected a base knock. This set up trade candidate Marlon Byrd to double into center field, allowing Howard to hobble around the bases and score the team's third run of the frame. Sizemore recorded the final out, but not before the Phillies took a 5-3 lead.
Bruce Bochy's squad pulled to within one in the seventh on a rather odd play. After Ehire Adrianza had doubled off of Ken Giles with one away in the inning, Buster Posey grounded a sharp ball back up the middle. The ball deflected off Giles and rolled to Chase Utley's left. When Chase attempted to field it, the ball slipped past his glove and into right field. It allowed Adrianza to score and bring the ballgame to 5-4. It would be the first run charged to Giles since the very first batter he faced in his major league debut and bring the Giants within one heading into the ninth inning.
Philadelphia held that 5-4 lead into the ninth inning, where closer (and trade candidate) Jonathan Papelbon looked to shut the Giants down. However, with one swing of the bat, Papelbon would earn his first blown save since June 16th against the Atlanta Braves, and just his third all season. Buster Posey was the guilty party, raking in home run number eleven on the season on the first pitch of the at bat. Papelbon held the next two batters without a hit, but the bottom of the ninth would now commence with a 5-5 tie.
Jeremy Affeldt came in to try to move the game to extras for the Giants, and forced Ben Revere to ground out. Jimmy Rollins would then ground a ball to short, but was able to beat out the play and reach on an infield single. A base hit into right field for Chase Utley put runners on the corners with one away. Affeldt was then able to strike Ryan Howard out an a 1-2 breaking ball for the second out, leaving the game up to Marlon Byrd. However, a ground out to Sandoval at third ended the threat and sent the game into the tenth inning.
The two teams continued to toss zeros back and forth until the 14th inning, when Jeff Manship unraveled. With one out, Buster Posey doubled. The Phillies then intentionally walked Pablo Sandoval. Winning pitcher George Kontos sacrificed them to second and third base for the second out. Gregor Blanco would walk, and then Brandon Crawford would deliver the damning blow: a double past Domonic Brown in left field that would clear the bases to put the Giants ahead 8-5. They would add one more a batter later when catcher Hector Sanchez singled Crawford in to make it 9-5.
In the bottom of the 14th inning, the Phillies would score one and bring the tying run to the plate. Ryan Howard led off with a single. Marlon Byrd flied out, but Wil Nieves would double to put runners at second and third with one out. After Tim Lincecum replaced reliever George Kondos, Cody Asche hit an RBI ground out, making the score 9-6 with two outs and a runner at third base. Cameron Rupp walked, putting the tying run at home plate in Domonic Brown. Despite Lincecum being shaky, Brown swung three times and ultimately grounded out to end the game. Giants win, 9-6.
Impact: Everyone is tired. Both teams emptied their benches to get through all fourteen innings, and the Giants even used Friday's starter Tim Lincecum. The Phillies and Giants alike will hope for strong pitching performances from their starters on Wednesday.
Up Next: A.J. Burnett will make what could be his final start in a Phillies uniform tomorrow night, when he sets up to face Madison Bumgarner of the Giants. The two will take to the mound at 7:05 PM Wednesday night.
Andrew Gillen, Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com
