The Phillies were able to secure win number three yesterday in a victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Amidst some controversy in both the pitching rotation and at the shortstop position, the team was still able to string together some clutch hits and impressive pitching. While I'm sure it wasn't the most important thing to them, Philadelphia had a chance to put together back-to-back wins for the first time all Spring. They would try to do so with Roberto Hernandez on the mound for them. Facing the Yankees, Hernandez was set to square off against Ivan Nova.
The Game: Scoring kicked off in this contest during the bottom of the third inning. Ben Revere and Chase Utley each singled to start the frame. Marlon Byrd stepped up to record a single of his own, allowing Revere to stroll home. A wild pitch by Nova during Ryan Howard's at bat allowed each runner to advance, and Utley eventually came home when Piece had a base knock for the team's fourth straight single. Carlos Ruiz grounded into a double play, but Byrd was able to sneak home for the Phillies' third run. Domonic Brown singled and Darin Ruf doubled with two away, but Brown was thrown out at home plate trying to score on Ruf's hit. 3-0 Phillies.
Quietly, Hernandez put together a stellar performance for the home squad. Through five strong innings, Roberto was perfect. He recorded two strikeouts and lowerd his Spring ERA to just 2.03. Scott Sizemore singled for the Yankees' first hit of the afternoon, closing the door on Hernandez and bringing Jeremy Horst into the game.
The Yankees secured their first scores in the seventh inning. Horst remained in the game, and allowed a leadoff homerun to Jacoby Ellsbury. A ground out for Ichiro was followed by a walk to Mark Texiera. Francisco Arcia replaced Texiera on the basepath. When Kelly Johnson doubled, Arcia attempted to come home. However, the combination of a superb Clete Thomas throw, textbook relay by Freddy Galvis, and legal block of the plate by Carlos Ruiz stopped Arcia dead in his tracks. New York was able to get their second run of the inning later when Francisco Cervelli singled. 3-2 Phillies.
The score remained the same into the bottom of the eighth. Kevin Frandsen and Clete Thomas both singled off Yankees pitcher Preston Claiborne. Reid Brignac fouled off a ton of pitches before doubling of the top of the right field wall to bring home Frandsen. Tommy Joseph followed with a mammoth double into right of his own, tipping off the glove of Taylor Dugas. Thomas and Brignac each scored to give the Phillies six runs for the second game in a row. Tyson Gillies drove a ball into right field as well, but the catch was made this time. Joseph mis-read the play, and was doubled off at second for the second out. The Phillies scored no more, but lead it 6-2.
That 6-2 lead for the Phillies would end up being the final score, as Brad Lincoln closed the door on the Yankeed in the ninth.
Impact: Quite a few Phillies players secured impressive performances in today's game, led by Roberto Hernandez. 5.0+ innings of spotless pitching is more than the team could ask for in a potential (and most likely) fifth starter candidate. Ben Revere was 2-4 with a run scored, and his now hitting .323 this Spring. Domonic Brown was 2-2 with a walk. The team came together for 13 hits, one of the highest amounts this Spring.
Up Next: The Phillies will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates McKechnie Field, although neither pitcher as been announced. 1:05 is the scheduled start time.
Andrew Gillen
