Posted by Danielle Wilson
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Hunter Pence and Placido Polanco were both in the lineup tonight, fielding their usual positions behind Cliff Lee. That alone should be enough to want to watch this game. An Ace, a brand new right-fielder fresh off the plane from visiting Milwaukee, and a returning veteran who is good as new after a back injury. Let's play ball.
We would have to wait until the second inning to see Hunter Pence step up to the plate for the first time. But, before he could do that, Ryan Howard sent a fastball to the ivy walls in center field for his 21st home run of the year. Hunter Pence grounded out in his first at bat, however, after doing so, Charlie Manuel argued with first base umpire Angel Hernandez that Pence was safe. Which he was.
In the bottom of the third, Jimmy Rollins homered to right field to make it a 2-0 game. Ryan Howard came up big in the same inning, doubling to left field scoring Victorino.
Pedro Alvarez homered in the fourth to score two and cut the Phillies' lead to one run.
The fourth inning was just as great as the third for Howard, who singled to score Rollins, collecting his 1,000th career hit. Congrats, big fella. That's also puts him at 80 RBI for him for the season. Chase Utley had singled beforehand, scoring Cliff Lee.
Carlos Ruiz doubled to score Polanco in the seventh inning, giving the Phillies a 6-2 lead.
In the top of the eighth, in Cliff Lee's final inning, Neil Walker singled to score Ciriano. Brandon Wood singled to score McCutchen, and that would be it for Lee. Young, filthy Antonio Bastardo ended the inning, striking out Alvarez. Lee's line from tonight: Four earned runs, eight hits, two walks, eleven strikeouts.
Ryan Howard was intentionally walked in the eighth to get to the new fifth man, Hunter Pence. Big mistake, Hunter singled to score Shane Victorino who had tripled to get on base. Hunter's first hit and first RBI as a Phillie is now out of the way.
With a 7-4 lead, Ryan Madson pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the side. Phillies go on to win, taking the series from the Bucs. Game three tomorrow afternoon, Vance Worley against Jeff Karstens.
