Posted by Danielle Wilson
During the first dollar dog night of the season, Joe Blanton (please, no fat jokes) took the bump against Brewers starter Shaun Marcum. There are a couple of guys in the Brew Crew's lineup that are known to really hit against the Phillies, such as Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, but the Phillies have a secret weapon to make sure they win the series: Placido Polanco. He currently has a six game hitting streak and had excellent numbers against the Brewers in 2010, so let's get this show on the road.
Joe Blanton started strong in the first, using mainly a changeup-sinker combination which was very effective for him. He grounded out two, allowed one hit, and struck out one unlucky Prince Fielder who was hacking away. He has now earned the nickname "Princess Fielder" after one at bat.
Shaun Marcum didn't have the same first inning that Joe did. After striking out Victorino, Polanco singled, Rollins reached on a fielding error by Rickie Weeks, and Ryan Howard singled to left and beat the shift to score Polly. Eat shift.
After both starters pitched 1-2-3 second innings, Joe Blanton got into a pickle (unintentional food joke) in the third when he allowed a single to Jonathan Lucroy, a sac bunt to Marcum, and then a single to Carlos Gomez. Tied game. They weren't done just yet, Ryan Braun singled and scored Gomez before Princess popped up to end the inning. 2-1 Brewers.
Scoreless fourth inning, but a nail-biting fifth for Joe. He got into another jam (last food joke, I promise) but got Princess to strike out swinging again to end the inning, leaving two on base.
The sixth inning was another 1-2-3 for both starters, the only difference being that Marcum struck out the side of Howard, Francisco, and Ibanez. Ouch.
Joe Blanton allowed the obligatory single in the seventh, but retired the next three batters in order, striking out Carlos Gomez on a changeup. JoeBla was throwing some nasty meatballs. Sorry for breaking my promise about food jokes.
With one man gone in the seventh, Wilson Valdez and Ross Gload singled, and with those two on the corners, Shane Victorino batted into a fielders choice, scoring Wilson. Tied game. Polly had a chance to bat in Michael Martinez who was pinch running for Gload, but he grounded into the least likely of double plays; off of relief pitcher Mitre's back, to shortstop Betancourt who dove to catch it, then tagged out Michael Martinez. I can't even…
Joe Blanton was done after seven innings pitched. His line: seven hits, two earned runs, one walk, four strikeouts.
Ryan Madson came into the game for the eighth inning, and allowed a single to Braun, and double to Princess, and got Betancourt to ground out which scored Braun. He intentionally walked Mark Kotsay, and got Lucroy to strikeout. 3-2 Brewers.
In the ninth, J.C. Romero came in and allowed a single before straining his right calf (God damn it). David Herndon came in and retired the rest of the side.
The offense came back in the ninth for the Phillies, first with Ruiz drawing a walk, then Valdez with a sacrifice bunt. Pete Orr pinch hit for Herndon, and hit an RBI game-tying double. That was all that the Phillies would get, sadly. Onto the tenth inning.
Jose Contreras pitched a 1-2-3 tenth for the Phils, and so did Mitch Stetter for the Brew Crew. Onto the eleventh inning.
Antonio Bastardo, one of three relief pitchers remaining in the 'pen, issued a walk, but retired the side on a 3-6 double play. Once again, the Phillies were retired in order, this time by Brandon Kintzler. Onto the twelfth.
Much to everyone's dismay, Kyle Kendrick came in for the twelfth. It was not pretty. Kyle walked the lead off batter, Rickie Weeks, then allowed Carlos Gomez to reach on a throwing error…by Kyle…and after that, he hit Prince Fielder, threw a wild pitch, intentionally walked McGehee, allowed a sac fly, intentionally walked another batter, and allowed a single to Lucroy who scored Prince Fielder. 6-3 Brewers.
The Phillies did not come back in the twelfth with anything that produced a run. The Brewers won a crazy one 6-3 in twelve innings. Roy Halladay will take the mound tomorrow against Randy Wolf.
