Phillies Accidentally Stumble into Gift of a Win, 3-2

This would normally be one of those posts where I describe a grim situation the Phillies got into and frustrated everybody a bunch of times.

And it is that, but at the end, the Phillies don’t lose.

Apr 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Michael Young (10) celebrates scoring during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

But let’s not be dramatic.  The Phillies hit a lot of balls hard, at least at first.  In the bottom of the second, Ryan Howard and Michael Young singled and walked.  With no outs and two men on, it seemed like the perfect spot to strand two runners.  Dom Brown, Ben Revere, and Erik Kratz were consecutively put down, but each one did so on a hard hit ball that convinced people they’d done the unthinkable.  I think it was Revere’s that I actually stood up and clapped.

The Phillies make scoring runs look very hard sometimes.  Eight were stranded tonight, including at least once with the bases loaded.  These are how they scored each of their home runs:

• Jonathan Pettibone, runs home from third on a wild pitch.
• Jimmy Rollins, hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
• Jimmy Rollins single that almost gets him and then Ezequiel Carrera thrown out.

Here’s how the Pirates scored their runs:

• Pedro Alvarez home run
• Russell Martin home run

Martin’s was especially needling, as it came moments – moments – after the Phillies had the bases loaded with no outs and refused to score.

But, the other thread of the night was the start from young Jonathan Pettibone.  The first inning started rather harrowing, with a Starling Marte double.  He scampered to third on a fly out, but then Pettibone struck out Andrew freaking McCutchen looking and induced a ground out from Garret Jones.

Fortunately for Pettibone, the Pirates didn’t have a ton of luck once they got guys on base either.  The second inning was especially telling, being bookended with a couple of timely Pettibone K’s but Alvarez’s home run and a Russell Martin single, which Domonic Brown punished him for trying to turn into a double.

His five and a third innings got the job done.  He recovered nicely after both home runs, only seemed to lose control once, and kept the Bucs’ best player silent (McCutchen went 0-for-3 against him).  Charlie Manuel isn’t convinced the kid will start again, but he deserved the standing ovation he got as he exited the game.  He allowed six hits, two earned runs, and K’d six.  His counterpart, AJ Burnett, was almost equally effective, staying slightly less (5 IP), striking out slightly more (7 K), allowing exactly the same (2 ER), but walking a bunch (3).

The bullpen (Valdes, Bastardo, Adams, Papelbon) can have some props for their scoreless completion and Paps for his 1-[double]-2-3 ninth.

When it all went right

When Jimmy knocked in that run.  Who knew how many runs we’d knock in during that one-run rally?  I mean, we know now.  But at that point the possbilities were limitless.

Hero

Jonathan Pettibone.  He needs it at his age.

Villain

Russell Martin.  It was the general consensus of those nearby us that he “just looks like a prick.”

TBOH’s thoughts