Phillies Take Series on Misplayed Bunt

Cliff Lee did not get the win today.  If not for a Michael Martinez error on a sure double play in the second inning, Lee may have emerged victorious.  Cliff Lee allowed two runs (one earned) in his seven innings of work and this was his WORST start in the last month and change.  That is absolutely ridiculous.

The Brewers have been substantially outplayed to this point in the series.  In what was supposed to be an opportunity to show the baseball world that they belong in the same sentence as the Phillies, the Brewers have come up short.  The Phillies took an early lead tonight on a solo home run from Hunter Pence, but the Brewers battled back with some help from the shoddy defense of Michael Martinez.  Casey McGehee reached second base after the error.  Brewer’s shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt followed with a single to center.  McGehee is not a small man and because of this he is not very fleet of foot (put more simply, McGehee is fat and slow).  He attempted to score from second on the single and did so by running into Carlos Ruiz.  Ruiz was unharmed by the collision, but Cliff Lee’s scoreless innings streak was ended.  McGehee also drove in the only earned run of the ballgame with an RBI groundout.

This was another contest in which the Brewers did not hit very many balls hard.  The Phillies had baserunners against Randy Wolf, but they could not deliver the knockout blow.  Both of the runs they score came from the long ball.  Pence and Placido Polanco homered to keep the game knotted into extra innings.

In the top of the tenth inning, Raul Ibanez singled to right and took second on a bobble from right fielder Corey Hart.  Chooch got a bunt down to get Raul to third and Letroy Hawkins airmailed the throw into the seats scoring Ibanez.  Ryan Madson entered the game to preserve the one run lead, did so and won the Phillies the series.

Tomorrow, Vance Worley attempts to win his 100th straight game against Yovani Gallardo.  A win will give the Phillies sweeps of the second and third best teams in the league.  Good times.