The Phils produce enough offense to defeat the Rockies, 2-1, ending a four-game losing streak.
The Phils’ offense produce enough runs to finally reward a good pitching performance as they defeat the Rockies, 2-1, ending a four-game losing streak.
The first four and a half innings of the game was a pitchers’ duel between Phils’ starter Cole Hamels who, in the first five innings, gave up only two hits and a walks to the Rox, while striking out four, while Rockies’ starter Jorge De La Rosa would, in his four innings, give up just a hit, while striking out two. The Phils would score first in the bottom of the fifth as, with two men on, and with one man out, Wilson Valdez hits an RBI single, knocking in Raul Ibanez, who had earlier singled, would move up to second base when Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch, then stopped at third on a Chris Iannetta passed ball, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead, while sending Ruiz, who had been hit by a pitch, then moved up to second base on Iannetta’s passed ball, would stop at third. The Rockies then tied the game up at one-all in the seventh as, with a runner on second, and with two men out, Todd Helton hits an RBI double, knocking in Carlos Gonzalez, who had earlier doubled. The Phils retook the lead in the eighth as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Jimmy Rollins hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Valdez, who had earlier singled, moved up to second on pinch hitter Shane Victorino’s sacrifice bunt, then stopped at third on a De Le Rosa’s wild pitch, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead. That would end up being the final score as Ryan Madson collected his seventh save in seven attempts as he pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out the side, in between a single and an intentional walk.
Cole Hamels (5-2, 2.92) gets the win as he pitched eight innings, giving up just one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out eight. Ryan Madson recorded his seventh save of the season as he gave up a hit and a walk, while striking out three. Jorge De La Rosa took the lost (5-2, 3.34) as he pitched eight innings, giving up two runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits, while striking out four.
The Phils had just five hits in the game, with Wilson Valdez leading the team with two hits, both singles, while knocking in a run. Jimmy Rollins (Single, RBI), Raul Ibanez (Single) and Carlos Ruiz (Single), had the other three Phils’ hits, as the offense’s batting struggles continue. Although they were able to score enough runs to win the game, it was only because of a passed ball and a wild pitch that they were able to win last night’s game. That is not going to continue. They need to help themselves to keep winning.
The Phils (26-16, 1st East) will conclude this short series with the Rockies (22-19, 2nd West) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park, and it will begin at 7:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.50), who is coming off a lost against the Braves on May 14, as he pitched five innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out five, in the Phils’ 5-3 lost. Blanton will be going for his second win of the season, while trying to improve on his previous outing. The Rox will counter with Jhoulys Chacin (4-2, 2.89), who is coming off a no-decision against the Padres on May 14, as he went six innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out six, in the Rockies’ 9-7 lost. He will be trying to improve his record. The Phils will be trying to sweep the short series, while hoping that the bats will finally explode and knock in some runs in support of a bunch of good pitching performances. Show the pitching some love guys!!!
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