Photo Credit: Andrew Gillen
With the minor league-esque lineup the Phillies have been putting out lately, it's no suprise that many of the games are low-scoring pitchers duels. Then, when a matchup of Cliff Lee vs. Mike Minor comes along, a 150-minute game is completely possible.
A Chris Johnson single was the only hit for either squad in the first two innings. Both Lee nd Minor came out with their best stuff, a sign of a 9:30 finish time. And, for a while, the Braves first score of the game seemed to be the only one. It came off the bat of young shortstop Andrelton Simmons. On just an 0-1 pitch, Simmons lifted a ball about five rows deep into the left field seats for a solo shot.
Up until the bottom of the seventh inning, neither pitcher faced more an four batters in any single frame. The only highlights in the stretch came from the glove of Chase Utley and the arm of Simmons. Finally, though, the Phillies would end Minor's deadly start. With two away in the seventh, Darin Ruf reached base on a full count single into left field. Following him was one Cody Asche, who sent a ball deep into right center field for a homerun, giving the Phillies a late 2-1 lead over the first-place Braves. FUUUUTUUUURE.
Jonathan Papelbon would come on o close out the ninth inning. Freedie Freeman's innocent single would be just that, and the Phillies would go on to win the ballgame. A boring game for the offensive-minded fan, but a hell of a performance for both Cliff Lee and Mike Minor. Not much action, and not much to analyze in this one. A nice win to keep the fans interested, and another superb showing by rookie Cody Asche, both in the field and at the plate. Tomorrow night, game two will commence at 7:05 as Alex Wood battles Kyle Kendrick.
