Tagged: Extra-Base Hits

Phils’ catcher Carlos Ruiz is named last week’s National League Player of the Week.

Philadelphia_PhilliesYesterday, Major League Baseball announced that Phils’ catcher Carlos Ruiz was named the National League Player of the Week for last week. Ruiz, during last week, batted 11 for 22 for a .500 average, and a .593 on-base percentage, while he lead the NL with seven  RBIs and was tied for first with 20 total bases. He was also ranked second among NL catchers with eight runs scored and a .909 slugging percentage, and was tied for second with eleven hits. He also went five for six with runners in scoring position.

In the Dodgers series, Ruiz would go 7 for 14 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBIs, with his six extra base hits in the four-game series being the most by a Major Leaguer since Jayson Werth had done it, reaching the same total from Sept. 28-31, 2008. He also helped the Phils in their victory over the D-backs this past Saturday night, as he went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and being a major part of the Phils four-run eighth inning rally.

This is Ruiz’s first weekly award, as he is presently ranked second among NL catchers with eight doubles, and is third in batting average with a .296 average.

Congratulations on winning the award, Carlos.

The Phils will conclude their six-game home stand with the first of three games against the Mets.

The Phils (3-3, 3rd) will end their short home stand with a weekend series against the Mets (4-2, 2nd), starting with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and will start at 7:05 pm EDT.

The Phils, who presently own a two-game winning streak, will see if they can continue the Mets present two-game slide, as they send to the mound their number two starter, Cliff Lee (0-0, 1.50), who is presently coming off a no-decision against the Pirates on April 7, in which he pitched six innings, giving up just one run, thanks to a wild pitch, and his not being able to catch Carlos Ruiz’s throw back to him as he still had a chance to tag out the runner, on two hits and two walks, while he struck out four, in the Phils’ 2-1 extra-inning lost. Lee, who has a career record of 2-0 against the Mets with an ERA of 0.43 and seventeen strikeouts, as he pitched in 21 innings, will once again be going for his first win of the year. The Mets will counter with R.A. Dickey (1-0, 3.00), who is coming off a win against the Braves on April 7, where he pitched six innings, giving up just two runs on six hits and four walks, as he struck out three, in the Mets’ 4-2 win. Dickey, who has a caeer record of 2-3 against the Phils with a 2.61 ERA and twenty-seven strikeouts, will be trying to see if he can again give the Phils’ batters fits.

The Phils’ offense, after being able to score only eight runs in their first four games of the season, for an average of two runs per game, have scored a total of ten runs in their last two, while their pitching have allowed only two runs, after being rung up for six in the home opener. In their last two games, the Phils have cranked out a total of twenty-two hits, including six extra-base hits (2B (3), HR (3)), with Carlos Ruiz, Shane Victorino and Ty Wigginton all hitting their first home runs of the season. The offense would also have three stolen bases, with Victorino swiping his third and fourth stolen bases, and Juan Pierre swiping his second stolen base of the young season, as the team continues to use small ball, along with some timely hitting added in the second game of the series, as well as some Marlins’ fielding mistakes and some luck finally going their way. Pitching wise, the starters have had only one bad start, Cole Hamels’ opening day dud at home in which he gave up four runs, all but one of which was earned, while the rest of the staff (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Vance Worley and Joe Blanton) have allowed a grand total of four runs in thirty-four innings pitched, for a record of 3-1 for the starters, with two no-decisions, in six starts. Lee will be trying to continue the so far excellent starting pitching when he faces the Mets tonight. The Phils hope that they can extend their winning streak, while putting the Mets back in their place, before they start an early trip to the West Coast.

Pat Burrell is to officially retire as a Phil in May.

Pat Burrell, who had played left field for the Phils from 2000-2008, and was a key member of the 2008 World Series Championship team, and the Phils have announced that he will officially retire as a Phil during the team’s weekend series with the Red Sox, May 18-20, after first signing a one-day contract. Burrell, the team’s no. 1 draft pick in 1998, would spend nine seasons with the ball club, playing in a total of 1306 games, with a batting average of .257 (1166 for 4535) with an OBP of .367 and an SLG of .485. As a Phil, among his 1166 hits were 253 doubles (14th), 14 triples and 251 home runs (4th) for a total of 518 extra-base hits (9th). He would also walk 785 times (5th). Burrell would knock in 827 RBIs (8th), while scoring 655 runs. Burrell’s main claim to fame as a Phil would be him hitting a double in the bottom of the seventh inning of game five of the 2008 World Series, which would lead to the game winning run. Burrell would then become a member of the 2009-10 Blue Jays, before joining the Giants later in 2010, becoming a member of their 2010 World Series Championship team, and then a member of their 2011 squad, before being released because of an aching right foot late in the season, and then announcing his retirement after the 2011 season. During his twelve years in the Major Leagues, Burrell would appear in a grand total of 1640 games, mostly as a left fielder and a DH (Rays), accumulating a career batting average of .253 (1393 for 5503), with an OBP of .361 and an SLG of .472 for an OPS of .834. He would have a total of 299 doubles, 16 triples and 292 home runs for a total of 607 extra-base hits, while he would walk a total of 932 times. Burrell would bring in a total of 976 runs, while crossing the plate 767 times.

The Phils’ bat remain hot as they tag Johan Santana for ten runs as the Phils crush the Mets 11-5 to regain first place in the NL East.

The Phils tag their nemesis, Johan Santana, for ten runs, including four home runs, as they hammer the Mets, 11-5, taking the opening series in their rivalry, as they regain first place in the NL East.

The Mets took a quick 3-0 lead in the first as, with two men on base, and with two men out, David Wright hits a three-run home run, his fifth home run of the season, scoring Luis Castillo, who had earlier singled and moved up to second base on a Jason Bay’s single, and Bay, who had just singled. The Phils would strike back in their half of the first as, with one man out, Placido Polanco hits a solo home run, his third home run of the season, cutting the Mets’ lead down to 3-1. Two batters later, now with two men out, Ryan Howard would hit a solo home run of his own, his fifth home run of the season, making it a 3-2 Mets’ lead. The Mets increased their lead in the fourth as, with a man on base, and with one out, Rod Barajas hurt the Phils again as he hits a two-run home run, his sixth home run of the season, as he knocks in Jeff Francoeur, who has earlier been hit by a pitch, and then stole second, to make it a 5-2 Mets’ lead. The Phils would then lash out at Mets’ starter Johan Santana in their half of the fourth. With a runner on third, and with two men out, Raul Ibanez hits an RBI single, scoring Chase Utley, who had earlier doubled, and had gone to third on Jayson Werth’s ground out, 2-3, cutting the Mets’ lead to 5-3. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, via a single to Juan Castro, moving Ibanez up to secod base, and a walk to Carlos Ruiz, moving both Ibanez and Castro up a base, and still with two out, Phils’ starter Jamie Moyer forces in a run with a walk, scoring Ibanez, and making it 5-4 Mets, while Castro and Ruiz both moved up a base. The next batter, Shane Victorino, then gives the Phils the lead with a grand slam home run, his fifth home run of the season, and the second in two days, giving the Phils an 8-5 lead, as he knocks in Castro, Ruiz and Moyer. Two batters later, the Phils makes it a 10-5 lead as, with a man on base, and with still two men out, Utley, as the Phils have batted around, hits a two-run home run, his seventh home run of the season, knocking in Polanco, who had earlier singled. That would be it for Santana as he would be taken out of the game. Two batters later, the Phils would make it an 11-5 game, as Werth hits an RBI double, knocking in Howard, who had earlier singled. That would end up being the final score, as Danys Baez would pitch a 1-2-3 ninth, as Moyer and the Phils’ bullpen would silence the Mets’ bats for the final five innings.

Jamie Moyers gets the win as he pitches six innings, giving up five runs on six hits, and a hit batter, while striking out two. His record is now 3-2 with a 5.70 ERA. Chad Durbin and Danys Baez follows by pitching three scoreless innings, giving up just a walk (Durbin) between them. Johan Santana took the lost as he pitches just three and two-thirds innings, being hammered for ten runs on eight hits, including four home runs and two walks, while striking out one. His record is now 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA. Hisanori Takahashi pitches an inning and a third, giving up a run on five hits, striking out a batter. Pedro Feliciano, Fernando Nieve and Francisco Rodriguez combine for three shut out innings, giving up just two hits (Feliciano), while striking out three (Feliciano (1), Nieve (2)).

The Phils’ bat struck for fifteen hits in the game, with Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard both leading the team with three hits each, with Polanco’s hits being a solo home run and two singles, knocking in a run, while Howard was a hit short of the cycle as he hit a single, a double and a solo home run, knocking in a run. They were followed by Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth, each getting two hits. Victornio’s hits were a single and a grand slam home run, knocking in four runs, Utley’s hits were a double and a two-run home run, plating two runs, while Werth’s hits were a single and a double, scoring a run. Raul Ibanez, Juan Castro and Jamie Moyer had the other three Phils’ hit, all singles, as Ibanez knock in a run with a single, while Moyer brought home a run with a walk. The Phils had a total of seven extra-base hits in the game (2B (3), HR (4)).

The Phils (14-10, 1st East) with continue their home stand with a four game series with the Cardinals (17-8, 1st Central). The game will be played later tonight at Citizens Bank Park and will start at 7:05 pm Eastern. The Phils will send to the mound Joe Blanton (0-0, -.–), who is making his first start of the year after coming off an injury. He hopes to cool down the Cards. The redbirds will counter with Jaime Garcia (2-1, 1.04), who is coming off a win against the Braves on April 28, as he went seven innings, giving up no runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out five, in the Cadinals’ 6-0 win. He will be trying to keep the Phils’ potent offense under control. The Phils hope that their bats will continue to be hot as they get ready to meet the Cardinals.

The Phils have even their Grapefruit League season as they defeat the Blue Jays in their A-game, 4-2.

The Phils have now won two games in a row in Grapefruit League play, evening their record at 3-3, as they defeat the Blue Jay, 4-2. Phils starter, Cole Hamels, had an up and down start. He started out with three scoreless innings, before giving up a lead-off home run at the start of the fourth inning, before being lifted after pitching three and two-thirds innings, giving up only one hit and two walks, while striking out three. He was followed by eventual winner Ryan Vogelsong, who pitched two and a third innings, giving up a run on three hits and two walks, while striking out a batter. Prospect J.C. Ramirez, part of the Cliff Lee trade with Seattle, then came in to pitch the final three innings, recording the save, his first in Spring Training, as he gave up just two hits, while striking out three.

The Phils scored a run in the fourth, taking a short lead, before taking the lead for good in the sixth, as they scored twice in that inning. They then scored an insurance run in the ninth. The Phils’ bats collected ten hits, with Wilson Valdez leading the team with three hits, followed by Placido Polanco, Greg Dobbs and John Mayberry Jr. with each recording two hits, while Cody Ransom had one. The Phils had three extra-base hits, two doubles, one by Dobbs, and the other by Mayberry, and a home run, a solo shot in the ninth by Ransom. Besides Ransom, Mayberry, Valdez and Carlos Ruiz each knocked in a run, with Ruiz’s rbi being on a sacrifice fly.

The next Phillies game will be tomorrow afternoon at Bright House Field in Clearwater against the Detroit Tigers, with game time at 1:05 pm. 

Halladay appears to already be in mid-season form, as he pitches three scoreless innings as the Phils defeat the Braves, 7-4, in Grapefruit League play.

New Phils ace Roy Halladay seems to already be in mid-season form as he gave up only three hits, all singles, to the Braves, as he struck out five batters, increasing his Grapefruit League total to eight, while pitching three scoreless innings against the Phils’ Eastern Division rival. The Phils would eventually win the game as they score two runs in the second on a two-run homer by Jayson Werth, one of his two hits in the game, and with a five-run outburst in the sixth, as John Mayberry, Jr. and Ben Francisco both knocked in two-runs apiece, while Brian Schneider brought home one run. The Phils had thirteen hits overall, with Werth and Ryan Howard leading the team with two hits apiece, while Mayberry, Francisco, Schneider, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, playing in his first Grapefruit League game, Freddy Galvis, Greg Dobbs, Brian Bocock and Ozzie Chavez each had one hit. Francisco had the only other extra-base hit besides Werth’s homer, a two-run double.

After Halladay had pitched his three scoreless innings, Ryan Madson came in to pitch the fourth, his first Grapefruit League appearance. Madson did not have a good outing, as he gave up all four of the Braves’ runs, on three hits and two walks, getting his first blown save of Spring Training. Danys Baez and Sergio Escalona followed Madson, with each man pitching a scoreless inning, giving up between them just one hit and a walk (both by Baez). Andrew Carpenter then followed as he pitched three scoreless innings, giving up a hit, while striking out two, noting his first save of Spring Training. Baez got the victory, his first for Spring Training, for a 1-0 record, while Escalona received his first Spring Training hold.

The Phils, now 2-3 in Grapefruit League play, next play two games today with the Toronto Blue Jays, an A game this afternoon, and an earlier B game.

The Phils take the first game of the 2009 World Series behind the pitching of Cliff Lee and the Chase Utley’s two home runs.

Behind the complete game pitching of Cliff Lee and an offensive attack powered by Chase Utley’s two solo home runs, the Phils defeated the Yankees, 6-1, taking a 1 games to 0 lead in the best of seven World Series.

The Phils took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the third as, with two men out, Chase Utley hits a solo home run to right, his first home run of the series. The Phils increased their lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth as, with one man out, Utley hits to right field his second solo home run of the night, and of the series. The Phils would then make it 4-0 in the eighth as, with the bases loaded, via a walk to Jimmy Rollins, who then stole second, a walk to Shane Victorino, and then a walk to Jayson Werth, after Ryan Howard hits a fly ball which would move Rollins up to third base, while Victorino would move up to second base on Werth’s walk, and with two men out, Raul Ibanez hits a two-run seeing eye ball single into right field, scoring both Rollins and Victorino, while sending Werth up to second base. The Phils then made it 5-0 in the ninth as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Victorino hits an RBI single, knocking in Carlos Ruiz, who had earlier doubled, and then went to third on Rollins’ single up the third base line, while Rollins would move up to second. Two batters later, with runners once again on the corners as Rollins moved up to third on an Utley fly out, the Phils would make it 6-0 as Howard hits an RBI double, scoring Rollins, before Victorino is thrown out at home, 9-2, to end the inning. As the Phils build up their lead, Cliff Lee was handling the Yankees with ease, giving up only four hits by the ninth inning, with only one man reaching second base, Derek Jeter with a two-out double in the third, while striking out eight batters. The Yankees would finally score a run in the bottom of the ninth as, with two men on, via singles to Jeter and Johnny Damon, and with nobody out, Mark Teixeira hits a grounder to Utley, who threw to Rollins for a force out, for the first out of the inning, wiping out Damon at second base. But Rollins, who actually had time to make an accurate throw to first for a double play, instead threw the ball wildly past Howard and into the dugout, allowing Jeter to score, making it a 6-1 Phils’ lead, and allowing Teixeira to go to second base. But that would be it as Lee would then proceed to strike out both Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada swinging to end the ball game.

Cliff Lee pitched a complete game, giving up an unearned run on six hits, while striking out ten batters. His series record is now 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA. CC Sabathia took the lost as he pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out six. His series record is now 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA. Phil Hughes pitched to two batters, walking both, giving up two runs. Damaso Marte pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out a batter. David Robertson pitched a third of an inning, giving up a hit and a walk. Brian Bruney pitched a third of an inning, giving up two runs on three hits. Phil Coke pitched a third of an inning, giving up a hit.

The Phils had nine hits in the game, with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard both leading the team with two hits a piece, with both of Utley’s hits being solo home runs, while both of Howard’s hits were doubles, knocking in a run. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz had the other five Phils’ hit, with Victorino’s hit being an RBI single, Ibanez’s hit being a two-run single, and Ruiz’s hit being a double. The Phils had a total of four singles and five extra-base hits (2B (3), HR (2)). The Phils did rather well with RISP last night being 4 for 9.

The Phillies (1-0) continues the 2009 World Series with the Yankees (0-1) in the new Yankees Stadium with a ballgame tonight. The game is to start at 7:57 pm Eastern. The Phils will send to the mound Pedro Martinez (0-0, 0.00), who last pitched on October 16 in game two of the NLCS against the Dodgers, where he received a no-decision as he went seven scoreless innings, giving up just two hits, while he struck out three, in the Phils’ 2-1 lost. He will be trying to keep the Yankees off-balance and give the Phils a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett (0-0, 5.84), who is coming off a no-decision against the Angels in game five of the ALCS on October 22, where he pitched six innings, giving up six runs on eight hits and three walks, while he struck out three, in the Yankees’ 7-6 lost. He will be trying to even up the series at a game apiece. The Phils will be trying to leave New York with a two game to none lead, but will be happy to leave with a split before coming back home to Philadelphia with home field advantage.

Repeat!!!! The Phils’ bats buried the Dodgers as the Phils win game five of the NLCS, 10-4, to return to the World Series to defend their championship.

Four home runs, with two of them by Jayson Werth, help rocket the Phils past the Dodgers, 10-4, to win the 2009 National League Championship Series, 4 games to 1, to become the first National League squad, since the 1995-96 Atlanta Braves, to win back-to-back National League pennants. The Phillies will now try to become the first NL team, since the Big Red Machine of Cincinnati, to win back-to-back World Series (1975-76).

The Dodgers took the early lead in the first as, with two men out, Andre Ethier hits a solo home run, his first home run iof the series, to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The Phils then struck back in their half of the first as, with two men on base, and with two men out, Jayson Werth hits a three-run bomb into the right field seats, his second home run of the series, knocking in Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, who had both been walked, to give the Phils a 3-1 lead. The Dodgers got a run back in the second as James Loney hits a lead-off home run, his second home run of the series, cutting the Phils’ lead to 3-2. The Phillies would get that run back in their half of the second as Pedro Feliz hits the first pitch into right field for a solo home run of his own, his first of both the series and of the post-season, to give the Phils a 4-2 lead. The Phillies then increased their lead in the fourth as, with one man on, and with nobody out, Raul Ibanez hits an RBI double, knocking in Werth, who had just singled, giving the Phils a 5-2 lead. Five batters later, with the bases loaded, thanks to a Carlos Ruiz walk, then Phils’ starter Cole Hamels moving both Ibanez and Ruiz up a base with a sacrifice bunt, and Jimmy Rollins then being hit by the pitch, and with two men out, Shane Victorino brought in another run as he in turn was hit by the pitch, forcing in Ibanez, making it a 6-2 Phils’ lead, as both Ruiz and Rollins moved up a base. The Dodgers got a run back in the fifth as, with one man out, pinch hitter Orlando Hudson hits a pinch hit solo home run, his first of the series, cutting the Phils’ lead down to 6-3. The Phils then added to their lead in the sixth as, with a runner on base, and with two men out, Victorino hits a two-run shot into left field, his second home run of the series, knocking in Rollins, who had earlier been hit by the pitch for the second straight time, to make it an 8-3 Phils’ lead. The Phils increased their lead in the seventh as, with one man out, Werth hits a solo home run, his second home run of the game, his third home run of the series and his fifth of the post-season, to give the Phils a 9-3 lead. The Dodgers then made one last attempt in the eighth as, with the bases loaded, via singles to Ronnie Belliard and Ethier, who sent Belliard to third with his single, and a walk to Manny Ramirez, and with nobody out, Matt Kemp hits an RBI single, scoring Belliard, and moving both Either and Ramirez up a base, making it a 9-4 Phils’ lead, with the bases still loaded. But the Phils then got out of the inning, as Ryan Madson then got Loney to foul out to the third baseman, then struck out Russell Martin, swinging, then got Casey Blake to hit into a force out, 6-4, wiping out Kemp at second. The Phils then got that run back in their half of the eighth as, with runners on second and third, thanks to a single by Rollins and a ground-rule double, thanks to Fan Interference, by Victorino, and with two men out, with Utley batting, Rollins would score on a wild pitch by Dodgers’ reliever Ronald Belisario, giving the Phils a 10-4 lead, while sending Victorino over to third. The Phils then send out Brad Lidge to end the game. He first struck out pinch hitter Mark Loretta swinging for the first out. He then got Rafael Furcal to foul out to the catcher for the second out. He then got Belliard to fly out to center to end the game, and give the Phils their second straight NL pennant, and the seventh NL pennant in the francishe’s long history.

Cole Hamels received a no-decision as he lasted only four and a third innings, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out three. J.A. Happ pitched a third of an inning, giving up a walk. Chad Durbin got the win as he pitched one and a third scoreless innings, as he struck out a batter. His series record is now 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA. Chan Ho Park pitched an inning plus two batters, giving up a run on two hits, as he struck out a batter. Ryan Madson pitched an inning, giving up a hit. Brad Lidge pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. Vicente Padilla took the lost as he lasted four innings plus two batters, giving up six runs on four hits and two walks, as he struck out three. His series record is now 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA. Ramon Troncoso pitched two-thirds of an inning, walking a batter and hitting a batter. George Sherrill pitched a third of an inning, giving up a run, as he hit a batter, as he struck out one. Clayton Kershaw pitched two innings, giving up two runs on a hit, a walk and a hit batter, while he struck out three. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched an inning, giving up a run on one hit, as he struck out three batters. Ronald Belisario pitched an inning, giving up a run on two hits and a wild pitch.

The Phils had eight hits in the game, with Jayson Werth leading the team with three hits, including two home runs, as he knocked in four runs. Shane Victorino followed with two hits, a two-run double and a ground-rule double, knocking in three runs. Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz followed with one hit each, with Ibanez’s hit being an RBI double and Feliz’s hit being a solo home run. The Phils had six extra-base hits in the game, two doubles and four home runs, as the offense, once again, got the hits when they needed them.

The Phillies (4-1) now wait to find out who their American League opponent will be in the 2009 World Series, as the 2009 ALCS between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continues tonight in Anaheim.

The bats appear to have come alive as the Phils crush the Cubs while giving some runs support to Pedro Martinez as he returns to the majors.

The Phillies’ bat appear to have decided to come out of hiding as they crush the Cubs, 12-5, as they give runs support to Pedro Martinez as he pitched his first game back in the major leagues. Their lead has now gone back up to four and a half games over both the Marlins and the Braves as the Marlins lose to the Astros.

The Phils jumped to a quick lead in the first as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Chase Utley hits an RBI double, knocking in Shane Victorino, who had earlier tripled, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead. The Phils made it a 2-0 lead as Ryan Howard tripled home Utley. The Cubs would cut the lead in half in the second as, with one man on, and one out, Jeff Baker hits an RBI single, knocking in Kosuke Fukudome, who had earlier doubled, making it a 2-1 Phils lead. The Phils increased their lead in the third as, with a man on, and with nobody out, Victorino hits a two-run home run, his ninth home run of the year, knocking in Jimmy Rollins, who had just doubled, making it 4-1 Phils. The Phils then busted the game wide open in the fourth. With two men on, and with nobody out, Carlos Ruiz hits an RBI single, scoring Jayson Werth, who had earlier singled, and had moved up to second base on Pedro Feliz’s single, giving the Phils a 5-1 lead, while Feliz who go all the way to third on Cubs’ center fielder Fukudome’s throwing error, while Ruiz would move up to second base. Two batters later, after Phils’ starter Pedro Martinez had grounded out, 4-3, for the inning’s first out, Jimmy Rollins hits a three-run home run, his fifteenth home run of the season, knocking in both Feliz and Ruiz, while giving the Phils an 8-1 lead. Four batters later, with two men on base, and two men out, Raul Ibanez hits a three-run bomb of his own, his twenty-seventh home run of the year, knocking in Utley, who had earlier singled, and Howard, who had just walked, moving Utley to second, as the Phils took an 11-1 lead, while batting around. Two batters later, Feliz would make it a 12-1 Phils lead, as he hit an RBI single, knocking in Werth, who had just doubled. After Ruiz walked, moving Feliz up to second, the Cubs would finally get out of the inning as Martinez struck out swinging. The Cubs got a run back in the fifth as, with the bases loaded, via a single by Koyie Hill, a walk by Sean Marshall and a single by Ryan Theriot, and with nobody out, Milton Bradley hits an RBI single, scoring Hill, making it a 12-2 Phils’ lead, while Marshall and Theriot moved up to third and second respectively. Two batters later, with the bases still loaded and with one man out, Jake Fox hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Marshall, making it a 12-3 Phils’ lead, while also sending Theriot to third. On the play, Victorino, who caught the ball, had a cup of beer thrown at him from the stand by one of the Cubs fans. After the play, Victorino showed his displeasure by looking at the fan, who was quickly removed from the ballpark by security. I don’t know what that idiot was thinking, cause Fox would’ve been called out by the umpires for fan interference if Victorino had dropped the ball. Folks, I don’t want to hear any excuses, cause that guy was a moron, pure and simple!!!! In the ninth, with runners on the corners, and one man out, Aaron Miles hits into an RBI ground out, 3-unassisted, for the inning’s second out, scoring Sam Fuld, who had earlier singled, and had gone to third on Eric Bruntlett’s fielding error of a Hill ground ball, making it a 12-4 Phils’ lead, while Hill, who was safe on Bruntlett’s error, moved up to second base. The next batter, Theriot, then hits an RBI single, scoring Hill, cutting the Phils’ lead down to 12-5. But that would be it as pinch hitter Geovany Soto grounded out, 5-3, for the game’s final out.

Pedro Martinez got the win as he went five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out five in his first start in the majors since last September. His record is now 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. Chan Ho Park pitched three scoreless innings, as he struck out three. Chad Durbin pitched an inning, giving up two runs, neither of which were earned, on two hits. Jeff Samardzija took the lost, as he pitched only three and a third innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits, as he struck out four. His record is now 1-2 with an ERA of 7.81. Sean Marshall pitched three and a third innings, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out four. Aaron Heilman and Carlos Marmol combined for two and a third scorless innings, striking out a batter between them (Marmol).

The Phils exploded for fourteen hits, with each of the regulars having at least one hit. Chase Utley lead the team with three hits, including a double, knocking in a run, while scoring two, as he raised his average to .296. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz followed with two hits a piece, with Rollins’ hits being a double and a three-run homer, while Victorino’s two hits were a triple and a two-run home run and one of Werth’s two hits was a double. Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz each had a hit, with Howard’s hit being a triple and Ibanez’s hit being a three-run home run. Besides the runs knocked in by Utley, Rollins, Victorino and Ibanez, Howard, Feliz and Ruiz each knocked in a run. The Phils had a total of eight extra-base hits in last night’s game (3 (2B), 2 (3B), 3 (HR)). Hopefully, this will mean that the offense has returned.

The Phils (63-48, 1st National League East) will conclude with an afternoon game against the Cubs (58-54, 2nd National League Central). The game is already in progress and is being played at Wrigley Field. The Phils’ starter is Cliff Lee (9-9 (2-0), 2.95 (1.13)), who is coming off a win against the Rockies on August 6, where he went seven innings, giving up only one run on six hits and a walk, as he struck out nine, in the Phils’ 3-1 win. He is trying to lead the Phils to a sweep over the Cubs. The Cubs will counter with Ryan Dempster (6-5, 4.04), who is coming off a win against the Rockies on August 8, where he went six innings, giving up just two runs on nine hits, while striking out two, in the Cubs’ 6-5 win. He will be trying to avoid the sweep. The Phils are presently leading the Cubs, 5-1, after six innings, trying to perform a sweep of the Cubbies, before going on to Atlanta to see if they can push the Braves back, as well as increase their lead in the NL East.

Update: Turns out security threw out the wrong person last night, as the moron who threw the beer let someone else take the rap for his misdeed. But, both the Cubs and Victorino have filed a complaint against the toad, while his face is getting plastered all over the place. Hopefully it’ll be only a matter of time before the Chicago boys in blue come knocking at his door.

The Phillies make it four wins in a row as they rout the Reds, 22-1, increasing their lead to two games in the East.

The Phils tie a franchise record by scoring ten runs in the first inning while in route to a 22-1 rout of the Reds, one of the most lop-sided scores in the team’s long history. The Phils’ lead in the National League East is now at two games over the Marlins, as they lose to the Giants.

After Phils’ starter Cole Hamels had an easy first inning, the Phils’ batters went to work on Reds’ starter Johnny Cueto. After Jimmy Rollins worked a walk, Shane Victorino gave the Phils a quick 2-0 lead as he belt Cueto’s ninth pitch into the right field seats for a two-run home run, his sixth home run of the season, scoring Rollins in front of him. After Chase Utley is called out on strike for the first out of the inning, and Ryan Howard then lined out to the third baseman, 5-unassisted, Jayson Werth continued the inning with a single. The next batter, Greg Dobbs, made it 4-0 Phils as he hits a two-run shot of his own, also to right field, his fifth home run of the year, knocking in Werth. After Pedro Feliz was hit by the pitch and then Carlos Ruiz was walked, moving Feliz up to second base, Hamels helped his own cause by hitting a two-run double, scoring both Feliz and Ruiz, giving the Phils a 6-0 lead, as the Phils batted around. Rollins, up for the second time in the inning, hits an RBI double of his own, scoring Hamels, and making it 7-0 Phils. After Victorino was walked, Reds’ manager Dusty Baker had seen enough, as he came to the mound and took out Cueto, replacing him with Daniel Ray Herrera. Utley quickly greeted Herrera with a three-run shot to right center field, his nineteenth home run of the season, knocking in both Rollins and Victorino, giving the Phils a 10-0 lead, tying the Phillies’ franchise record for the most runs scored in the first inning, which had been done three previous times, with the most recent one occurring on June 2, 2002, against the Expos. The inning finally ended with Howard being called out on strikes for the inning’s final out.

The Reds would get onto the scoreboard in the second as Jonny Gomes hits a lead-off home run, his fifth home run of the year, making it a 10-1 Phils’ lead. But that would be it for the Reds, as Hamels kept them quiet during the seven innings that he would pitch, going after them, as he gave up only three hits, while walking none and striking out only two batters. Meanwhile, the Phils just kept on scoring. They would make it 11-1 in their half of the second as, with two men on, and one out, Ruiz hits an RBI single, knocking in Dobbs, who had earlier singled, and had gone to second on Feliz’s single, while seconding Feliz up to second base. The Phils increased their lead to 12-1 in the third as, with runners on the corners, and one man out, Werth hits a sacrifice fly for the inning’s second out, knocking in Victorino, who had earlier hit a ground-rule double, and had gone to third, when Howard hit in a force play, 3-6, as Utley, who had just walked, was wiped out at second base, while Howard was safe at first. The Phils then proceeded to really pile it on in the fourth. With two men out, Hamels got on base with a single. Rollins followed with a walk, sending Hamels on to second base. Victorino then followed with an RBI double, knocking in Hamels, giving the Phils a 13-1 lead, while sending Rollins up to third. Utley then hits an RBI infield single as he beats out Reds’ third baseman Edwin Encarnacion’s throw to first, which allowed Rollins to score, making it a 14-1 Phils’ lead, while Victornio stopped at third. Utley is then replaced at first base by pinch runner Eric Bruntlett, giving Utley some rest. Howard then followed with an RBI single to right, which scored Victorino, making it a 15-1 Phils’ lead, before it became 16-1 as Bruntlett would score on Reds’ right fielder Jay Bruce’s fielding error, which also allowed Howard to move to second, before he is in turn replaced by pinch runner John Mayberry, Jr., so that he can also get some rest.

The score would stay 16-1, as Hamels, and then Tyler Walker kept the Reds under control, while the Reds’ bullpen would keep the Phils off of the board until the bottom of the eighth inning. With one man out, pinch hitter Matt Stairs would get on base with a walk. Rollins would follow with a single, sending Stairs up to second base. Victorino followed with a single, scoring Stairs, making it a 17-1 Phils’ lead, while moving Rollins up to second base. Bruntlett followed him with an RBI double, knocking in Rollins, giving the Phils an 18-1 lead, while Victorino would stop at third. Mayberry then walked, loading the bases. Werth would then clear the bases with a grand slam home run, his seventeenth home run of the year, sending home Victorino, Bruntlett and Mayberry before him, as he gave the Phils a 22-1 lead, the team’s highest runs total since the 26 runs that they would score against the Mets on June 11, 1985, and the fifth highest runs total in franchise’s history, as well as being the highest numbers of runs that they would score at Citizens Bank Park. This would be the final score as Scott Eyre, coming off of the 15-days disabled list, would pitch a scoreless ninth.

Cole Hamels got the win, as he pitched the team’s fifth straight quality start, and the fourth for the present home stand, as he went seven innings, giving up just one run on three hits, while he struck out two. His record is now 5-5 with an ERA of 4.70. Tyler Walker pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter. Scott Eyre pitched a scoreless inning, giving up just two hits, as he struck out two. Johnny Cueto lasted only two-thirds of an inning, giving up nine runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out only one batter. His record is now 8-5 with a 3.45 ERA. Daniel Ray Herrera pitched two and a thirds innings of relief, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk, as he struck out two. Nick Masset pitched an inning, giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on four hits and a walk, as he struck out one. Carlos Fisher and Josh Roenicke would combine for three scoreless innings, giving up only three hits (Fisher (2), Roenicke (1)), while they each struck out two batters. Paul Janish, normally a position player, pitched an inning, giving up six runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out a batter.

The Phils had twenty-one hits in the game, the most hits that they have had in one game so far this year. Shane Victorino and Greg Dobbs leads the team with four hits each, followed by Jimmy Rollins with three hits. Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, and Cole Hamels come next with two hits a piece. Ryan Howard, Pedro Feliz, Carlos Ruiz and Eric Bruntlett have the other four Phils’ hits. The Phils had ten extra-base hits in the game (2B (6), HR (4)) as Victorino was a triple short of hitting the cycle. Werth knocked in the most runs with five, thanks to his grand slam home run and his earlier sac fly. Victorino and Utley followed with four RBIs each, followed by Dobbs and Hamels with two RBIs a pieces, then by Rollins, Howard, Ruiz and Bruntlett with one RBI each. All of the Phils’ starters had a hit in last night’s game, with each man who had batted in the first, except for Howard, getting a hit that inning. The Phils ended up leaving only six men on base, as they have now won four straight games at home, after coming home from a 3-6 road trip.

The Phillies (43-37, 1st National League East) continued their so far successful home stand with a night game against the Reds (40-41, 4- T National League Central). The game will start at 7:05 pm and will be played at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will send to the mound J.A. Happ (5-0, 2.96), presently their best starter this season, as he comes off a no-decision against the Braves on July 2, where he pitched seven strong innings, giving up only two runs on seven hits and two walks, as he struck out five, in the Phils’ 5-2 lost. He will be going for his sixth win of the year, and planning to pitch the fifth straight quality start on the home stand. The Reds will counter with Aaron Harang (5-8, 3.86), who is coming off a no-decision against the D-backs on July 3, where he went seven innings, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out eighth, in the Reds’ 3-2 win. He will be trying to break a personal four-games losing streak, while hoping that the Phils’ bats will not be as potent as they were last night. The Phils will be shooting for their fifth straight win at home, while trying to take care of business while increasing their lead over the rest of the Eastern Division.