Phillies Beat Cardinals; Erik Kratz and Ben Revere Do Something Good

Ben Revere, hero. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

I’m not sure what it says about the 2013 Phillies that Kyle Kendrick, Erik Kratz and Ben Revere were the heroes of last night’s 7-3 win over the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. But for one night at least, it meant good news.

Revere, who came into last night’s series finale against St. Louis hitting .211/.253/.239 and, who two innings earlier grounded into a bases loaded, inning-ending double play, smoked an eighth inning, go-ahead single up the middle off Cardinals reliever Mitchell Boggs, to put the Phillies up 4-3.

It’s the hardest ball Revere had hit since spring training.

Then Kratz, who came into last night’s game hitting .192/.189/.288 with 1 HR, crushed a first-ball fastball over the left field fence for a monstrous three-run homer on the very next pitch. And hey, it even included an infuriating bat flip for good measure. Which of course should put everyone on high alert.

I have to like Kendrick now, don’t I? Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

All that came on the heels of six gritty innings from Kendrick, who gave up two earned runs on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Kenrick danced through the raindrops once again last night and ran up a high pitch count, near 50 pitches through two innings. That he lasted six innings was a borderline miracle.

Still, Kendrick’s ERA now sits at 3.28 after his third straight start in which he went at least six innings and gave up two earned runs or less.

I might have to start liking Kyle Kendrick now. I hate it when the narrative changes.

However, the big story in last night’s win was that the Phils earned a split of their four-game series with the Cardinals, and did so with late-game offensive heroics.

You know, CLUTCH hitting. It’s understandable if you didn’t realize the Phillies were actually allowed to do that.

Four runs on two pitches. It took the Phillies about six days to score four runs last week.

God bless the three-run homer.

It was especially good to see Revere come up with a clutch hit. He has added tremendous value with his defense in center field, but the bat has been downright Steve Jeltz-ian. And the emotion he displayed after his big hit in the 8th last night was indicative of the frustration the young twitterizing ballplayer has gone through during the first couple weeks of the season. Especially after his double-play grounder two innings earlier.

"“I was really ticked,” Revere said. “I thought that sucker was up the middle but it just stuck there and the shortstop grabbed it.” – quote per CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury"

But have no fear. In the end, the clutch hitting of Revere and Kratz and the gritty determination of Kendrick was enough for the Phils to earn a split of their four-game series with St. Louis.

Free turkey bacon for everybody!

When It All Went Right

During a big seventh-inning at bat from Laynce Nix (I’ll wait until you’re standing back up after fainting in the very spot you were standing… OK, all better now?) in which, on the 10th pitch from reliever Fernando Salas, hit a game-tying double to left-center field that scored Erik Kratz from first, tying the game at 3-3.

Yes, you read that correctly. Kratz scored from first base on a double. STANDING. Just credit the power of the bacon.

Hero

The entire bottom of the Phillies order really came up big in the late innings on Sunday night. Domonic Brown went 1 for 2 with 2 walks, Revere had the game-winning hit, and Kratz went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. You don’t see that every day from this group.

Villain

Carlos Beltran, who, I don’t know, just makes me want to make a Beltran voo doo doll and poke it with pin cushions.

TBOH’s Thoughts

I do not regret this decision, by the way, as I usually require more than three hours’ sleep to be a fully functioning human. Still, it would have been nice to see the, you know, GOOD part of the game.