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Phils hit a hundred home running
By egrissom | July 28, 2010
The Phillies have now played a hundred games in the 2010 season. If the first 94 weren’t that spectacular, the last six sure have been. Last night they got two-run homers in the fifth, sixth and seventh as they exploded for seven runs in a three-inning stretch to bury the Diamondbacks.
The Phils are suddenly getting monster offensive production from the guys they need if from the most. Ibanez and Werth have joined the already hot bats of Howard and Polanco. Last night the four of them combined to go 8-for-16 with four walks and six RBI.
The Phillies are 54-46 on the season after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-5 last night. They have won six in a row and are in second place in the NL East, 3 1/2 games behind the Braves.
Cole Hamels got the start for the Phillies and went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks. Three of the hits went for extra-bases, two doubles and a home run. He struck out eight and his ERA on the year rose to 3.48.
Justin Upton singled to center with two outs in the first and Hamels hit Adam LaRoche behind him. Miguel Montero walked behind LaRoche to load the bases and then Hamels walked Mark Reynolds, forcing in a run to make it 1-0. Stephen Drew popped to short for the third out.
Hamels got two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 second and two more in a 1-2-3 third.
He had a 2-1 lead when he started the fourth. He got Montero on a fly ball to center for the first out and was ahead of Reynolds 1-2, but Reynolds smashed a ball out to center to tie the game at 2-2. Drew followed that with a walk and Rusty Ryal doubled just past the glove of a diving Dobbs and into left. It put men on second and third with one out for the pitcher Rodrigo Lopez. Lopez hit a ground ball to short. Valdez looked Drew back to third and threw to first for the second out. Hamels hit Chris Young to load the bases, but struck Kelly Johnson out swinging 3-2 to leave them that way.
Dobbs nearly got a glove on the double by Ryal. I think Valdez or Polanco would have.
LaRoche doubled to right with one out in the fifth and moved to third when Ryal followed with a ground out to first. Hamels walked the righty Reynolds intentionally to pitch to the lefty Drew. Drew singled to right and LaRoche scored, putting the Diamondbacks up 3-2. Ryal reached on an infield single to load the bases, but Hamels struck Lopez out swinging on three pitches to end the frame.
Second time in the game that Lopez had a big at-bat with men on. Second time that Hamels got him.
The Phillies were up 4-3 when Hamels started the sixth. Young led off with a double over the head of Victorino in center and Drew walked behind him. Gerardo Parra was next and chopped a ball to first that might have been a double-play ball if Howard hadn’t pulled Valdez off the base with his throw to second. The error loaded the bases with nobody out. LaRoche hit a fly ball to center deep enough for Young to score and tie the game at 4-4. Drew moved up to third on the play. Montero was next and hit a ground ball to second. Polanco fielded and Parra hit the ground between first and second. Polanco tried to tag him and missed before he threw to first to get Montero for the second out. Drew came in to score and make it 5-4. Reynolds was next and hit a ball back up the middle, but Polanco made a nice play behind the bag and threw him out at first to end the frame.
Another awful error by Howard on a throw to second base.
Baez threw a 1-2-3 seventh with the Phils up 7-4. Drew flew to center for the first out. Victorino made the play but left the game with a strained left oblique.
First inning without allowing a hit or a walk for Baez since July 9.
Contreras started the eighth with the Phillies up 9-5. He gave up a leadoff single to Young and Young moved to second when Johnson followed with a ground ball to second. Contreras got Parra to fly to left for the second out before he walked LaRoche. With two outs and men on first and second, Montero grounded to first to end the frame.
Madson got two strikeouts and a ground out in a 1-2-3 ninth to drop his ERA on the year to 5.19.
Herndon threw 24 pitches in the game. Contreras 22, Madson 14 and Baez 9.
The Phillies lineup against righty Rodrigo Lopez went (1) Victorino (2) Polanco (3) Ibanez (4) Howard (5) Werth (6) Dobbs (7) Ruiz (8) Valdez. Valdez at short with Rollins on the bench after hitting a ball off his foot. Polanco plays second with Utley on the DL and Dobbs at third against the righty. Victorino moves up to the leadoff spot. He came into the game on-basing .250 in his last 94 plate appearances.
The Phillies were losing 1-0 when they hit in the first. Polanco singled with one out and Ibanez walked behind him. Howard struck out before a walk to Werth loaded the bases for Dobbs. Dobbs popped up to Drew at short to end the threat.
Ruiz led off the second with a single. Valdez struck out for the first out and Ruiz was caught stealing before Hamels struck out to end the inning.
Victorino started the third with a single and stole second. Polanco hit a ball that Drew fielded at short. Victorino was caught off the base and tagged out at third for the first out. Ibanez followed with a single that put men on first and third for Howard. Howard singled to right and Polanco scored, tying the game at 1-1, as Ibanez went to third. Werth walked to load the bases for Dobbs with one out. Dobbs fouled out to third with the runners holding. Ruiz drew a walk, though, forcing in Ibanez to put the Phils up 2-1. Valdez flew to right for the third out.
Bad base-running by Victorino on the ball hit by Polanco. Ibanez and Polanco both did well to go first to third on singles to right and it helped the Phils out. Disappointing at-bat for Dobbs with one out and the bases loaded. He had left six men on base through two innings.
The game was tied at 2-2 when the Phils hit in the fourth. Polanco doubled with two outs, but was left stranded when Ibanez flew to center.
Howard led off the fifth with a walk with the Phils down 3-2. Werth was next and he hit a 1-2 pitch out to center for a two-run homer that put the Phils on top 4-3. Dobbs, Ruiz and Valdez went down behind him.
First home run for Werth since June 23.
The Phillies were down 5-4 when they hit in the sixth. Victorino singled with one out and took second when Polanco followed with a ball fielded by the pitcher. A wild pitch moved Victorino to third with two outs before Ibanez brought him home with a single to right, tying the game at 5-5. Howard was next and hit a 3-2 pitch out to center. 7-5. Francisco hit for Herndon, who entered in Dobbs’s spot in the order in the top of the sixth, and struck out for the third out.
Ruiz started the seventh with a single and was bunted to second by Valdez. Ransom was next, he entered in the top of the sixth with Herndon in the ninth spot in the order, and he hit a 1-2 pitch out to left to put the Phillies ahead 9-5. Gload, who entered when Victorino left the game with his side issue, and Polanco went down behind him.
Ibanez, Howard and Werth all flew out in the eighth.
Victorino was 2-for-4.
Polanco 2-for-5 with a double. He’s 10-for-his-last-28.
Ibanez 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. 367/436/510 over his last 55 plate appearances.
Howard 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three RBI. 333/427/739 since July 7.
Werth 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks and two RBI. 339/466/500 since July 8.
Dobbs was 0-for-3 and left six men on base.
Ruiz was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Valdez 0-for-3 with a strikeout and four men left on base. He’s 2-for-his-last-25.
Roy Halladay (11-8, 2.28) faces Edwin Jackson (6-9, 5.01) tonight. Halladay allowed six runs in six innings against the Cubs on July 23. That’s his only start of his last four that he’s allowed more than one run. In two of his last three starts he’s gone at least eight innings without allowing any runs. Righties are on-basing .252 against him for the year. Jackson threw a no-hitter against the Rays on June 25. Since then he’s made four starts in which he has thrown to a 6.85 ERA with a 1.93 ratio.
Topics: Game recap |
July 28th, 2010 at 10:49 am
This is ridiculous. Ryan Howard is ridiculous. Would it be too much to ask for him to maybe kick in that nearly 1.200 OPS (for 3 whole weeks!!) a few months earlier in the season? He sure does hit better after All-Star games, doesn’t he? It’s funny, a few weeks ago I was thinking he might not even hit 30 bombs this year. I should have known better. I wouldn’t be surprised with 40/140 again.
His inconsistency during a season makes it all that much more eye-popping when you step away and look at all that production. As it is now, Ro-Ho (work with me here) is on pace for 131.22 RBI. He’s just now for the past month been getting “hot” by Ryan Howard standards. Holy moly.
If Ibanez can actually be dependable the rest of the season we just might be in business. For reals.
July 28th, 2010 at 11:24 am
If Ibanez, Howard and Werth are all going to hit that’s just about all the Phillies are going to need.
Howard is on pace to hit 37 HR. 40 seems likely. 140 RBI sure seems possible, too. As you point out he’s on pace for 131. He’s played in every game so far, though, so he’s due for a day or two off if the Phils can manage it.
His walks are still way down, but he’s got his on-base percentage about where it was last year by hitting for a higher average.
July 28th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Rollins hurting has me worried again b/c Valdez is back in the lineup. I was all giddy when they finally moved Polanco to 2nd and platooned Dobbs/Ransom at third. I guess its fitting then that Rollins gets nicked and Valdez comes back on in. It must be in the stars that Valdez is destined for full time playing this year. There is no other explanation in my mind.
The Victorino injury has me a bit concerned and curious as to whom they bring up if he lands on the DL.
It sure is nice to see some hitting again though eh?
July 28th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Victorino… sounds like the kind of thing that might linger. I too wonder who will be playing right if the Hawaiian is out for any length of time.
And the suspense over the trade deadline is killing me. Imagine Doc, Oswalt, and Hamels. Oh my goodness. Bring on The Bombers.
July 28th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
If Rollins was going to pick one series to bounce a ball off his foot and miss a couple games, this one against the D’Backs with both Cole and Roy pitching is a pretty good one to go with.
You hope Vic’s not gone too long, but would a short DL-trip open the door any for Werth sliding over to center and dragging D’Lo Brown up to play right?
July 28th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
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July 28th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I don’t really see a benefit of bringing Dom up yet. Let him stay in AAA until September, I think. Charlie’s been liking Gload lately, so probably he and Francisco split time in right, while Mayberry probably comes up to ride the bench.
July 28th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
It sounds like it’s not clear yet if Victorino has to go on the DL. The article below seems to suggest that if he does and the Phillies just need somebody short term, it would be Mayberry and not Brown.
If the Phillies are going to bring Brown up at some point in the year, it seems like he would be a much better choice than Mayberry. I like lefty/righty as much as anyone, but it’s not as important as really good player/pretty good player.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20100728_Trades_could_affect_Domonic_Brown.html
July 28th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
As much as I’d like to see Brown and think he’d probably do better than a Francisco/Gload platoon, I think Jim has it right. I just get the feeling the team doesn’t want to bring Brown up and then send him back. When he comes up, he stays up. If Vic is only out for a couple of weeks, what do you do with Brown then? I think they bring up Mayberry (who has also been ridiculously hot lately) and go from there.
July 28th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
And there you have it - Vic to DL Brown to Philly.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/Brown_called_up_as_Victorino_goes_to_DL.html
July 28th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I got to see Brown last night at the Pigs game. Very excited to see him with the Phils. He sure was fun to watch last night though for Lehigh Valley. With Victorino on the DL, Brown should get regular playing time which I believe is why they brought him up over Mayberry. I too thought Mayberry was going to be the choice but I guess giving Vic being out for 15 straight, they figure regular playing time for Brown and not just spot starts and PH.
I must say I am saddened a bit with Brown leaving the Valley but thats life living in a AAA city.
July 28th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Well this should be interesting..
I think this puts an immediate damper on any trading of Werth - who else can play center field? But if Dom performs well over the next 15 days, somebody’s going to be the odd man out, and the last thing they want is for him to sit on the bench.. do they send him down for the last 2-3 weeks of the minor league season, and bring him back again?
July 28th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Hopefully, he plays well enough to the point where figuring out what to do when Vic gets back is a good problem to have.
July 28th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I like Roger. Please give us problems like having to decide between several players playing out of their minds.
July 28th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
I’m guessing the Victorino injury means that Francisco plays all the time against lefties. It will be interesting to see how things are divided up in the corners when there’s a righty on the mound between Gload and Brown.
Glad to see Brown up. I think that was the better choice than Mayberry as long as he was coming up in September anyway. Scnheider, Dobbs, Gload and Brown are a lot of lefties to have around, so it will be interesting to see how Manuel handles things.
Also, playing better than Victorino might not be that tough given that Victorino on-based .260 in July and whatnot.
July 28th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Doc needs to be Doc tonight.
July 28th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Eric, if you want to compare Brown’s batting in the next 2 weeks to what anyone did in July, there’s a fair bet he outperforms everyone except maybe Jaime Moyer’s OBP.
July 28th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Good guys win.
July 29th, 2010 at 8:16 am
MLB reporting this morning that the ‘Strohs have completed a deal with the Phillies for Oswalt. He needs to approve and waive his no trade; that is all that is left to do. Happ “likely” involved in the trade.