Jerome Williams pitches Phillies to win over Athletics

Sep 20, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick (16) beats Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jerome Williams (31) to the bag for a single during the fifth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Phillies’ starting pitcher Jerome Williams has had his fair share of troubles on the mound, but against the Oakland Athletics in 2014 he’s been downright historic.

The right-hander has now earned a win over Oakland this season as a member of the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and now the Phillies.  This makes him the first pitcher do complete such a feat.

Williams threw seven scoreless innings and allowed just four hits on Saturday to move to 4-2 with the Phillies this season as Philadelphia took the game 3-0.

The Phillies’ bullpen came through to support Williams’ gem.  Antonio Bastardo earned his 11th hold of the season in a scoreless eighth.  On his 24th birthday Ken Giles got the opportunity to pick up his first career save and he did in a ten-pitch perfect inning.

Oakland’s staff proved stout in its own right, holding the Phillies scoreless until the seventh.  A’s starter Drew Pomeranz gave up just one hit over five innings, though he needed 86 pitches to get there.

While Giles came through in the closer role in place of the currently suspended Jonathan Papelbon, Freddy Galvis came through in place of the injured Jimmy Rollins.  Galvis slugged a tie-breaking two-run homer in the seventh.

In the eighth inning Marlon Byrd drove in Chase Utley for an insurance run to make it 3-0.  For Byrd, it’s his 80th RBI of the season.  The outfielder has now driven in at least 80 runs in three seasons of his 12-year career, one of them coming last season.

The Phillies may get Jimmy Rollins back with one game left in the series if he can begin running sprints.  The shortstop may have a chance to play in front of friends and family on Sunday.  Rollins is an Oakland native.