A matinee game after playing 12 innings the night prior can never be a fun thing, especially when the extra inning contest doesn't go in your favor. The Phillies (58-72) looked to make up for last night's loss with a win today against the Cardinals (70-59), who are leading the hunt for the NL Wild Card. David Buchanan pitched another good game yesterday but the Cardinals jumped on Mario Hollands and got to rookie flamethrower Ken Giles late, escaping with a slim 6-5 victory in extras. Today, the Phils looked to Jerome Williams to continue his impressive stretch since being brought to Philadelphia while St. Louis was looking to struggling right-hander, Justin Masterson.
The Game: The Phillies got to Masterson early in the first. Ben Revere led things off in the bottom of the first with a rare walk. How rare, you ask? I was his first walk in 171 plate appearances. Revere advanced to second on a wild pitch by Justin Masterson. J-Roll struck out but Chase Utley drove in Revere with an RBI single to centerfield, making it an early 1-0 Phillies lead.
After Jerome Williams avoided danger by getting out of a two on, none out situation, the Phillies added to their lead in the second. Domonic Brown hit a lead-off single and Cody Asche joined him with a single of his own with one out. Brown moved to third on Asche's one-out single and scored on a perfectly placed squeeze bunt up the first base line by Jerome Williams. 2-0 Phillies. Having already walked and scored a run in the first, Ben Revere followed that up with an RBI single to bring home Asche. Just like that it's 3-0 Phillies.
Thanks to Justin Masterson, the Phils tacked on another run in the third. Ryan Howard drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a double off the bat of Grady Sizemore. With Wil Nieves at the dish, Masterson tossed his second wild pitch of the game, allowing Ryan Howard to score for a four run lead. Nieves made it 5-0 with a soft RBI single to left, scoring Sizemore.
After a strikeout to Matt Adams to start the fourth, Jerome Williams surrendered a double to Jhonny Peralta and walked Jon Jay. Oscar Taveras hit an RBI single through the hole in right field, good enough to score Peralta from second, cutting the Phillies lead to 5-1.
The Phillies would blow things open a little more in the seventh. Ben Revere hit a one-out single and Jimmy Rollins cranked a two-run homer to left, extending the lead to six, 7-1.
Notable Offensive Statistics:
- Ben Revere: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB
- Jimmy Rollins: 1-4, HR (16), 2 RBI
- Grady Sizemore: 1-4, R, 2B
Impact: While people continue to comment on Ben Revere's lack of power, he keeps getting on base. Today he did that and more, scoring two runs, stealing his 38th base and driving in an early run for the Phils. His average is up to .314 on the year. Meanwhile, Jerome Williams put together another great outing in his third start for the team. He has given up just four earned runs in 20.1 innings of work since being picked up. Today, he threw eight innings of one-run ball, scattering five hits. Williams struck out five and walked three. He also laid down a perfect bunt to score Dom Brown in the second. This win gives the Phillies back-to-back series wins for the first time since late April.
Up Next: The Phillies will play host to the Washington Nationals for three games beginning Monday night at 7:05. AJ Burnett (6-14, 4.42) gets the nod for the Phillies in the opener while the Nationals go with Tanner Roark (12-7, 2.80).
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
