It was a pitching duel from the start tonight at Citizens Bank Park in front of just over 30,000 fans, the lowest attendance at The Bank in years. Both teams received stellar pitching from their starters, and the game came down to who would have the worse bullpen. Shockingly, and despite their best efforts to win that distinction, the Phillies bullpen was marginally better, at least in runs allowed, as the Phillies snuck in a 3 to 2 win.
Cole Hamels faced off against Stephen Strasburg on the mound tonight and both pitchers brought their A games. Hamels tossed seven innings, allowing only one run, on two hits. Hamels looked stellar, as he struck out eight and walked not a single batter (he threw only 18 balls all game). Strasburg surrendered only two hits as well, as he allowed one unearned run in six innings of work. At that point it came down to the bullpens, leaving every Phillies fan to panic.
It took the Phillies three pitchers just to get through the eighth, as Justin De Fratus, Cesar Jimenez and B.J. Rosenberg each only recorded one out. De Fratus was charged with a run after Jimenez allowed an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly, but luckily the shaky Phillies bullpen would limit the damage to one run. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth and picked up the save, but not before putting men on the corners with one out to scare everyone.
The Phillies trailed after a first inning home run by Ryan Zimmerman, but Carlos Ruiz would tie things in the fourth. With one out and Jimmy Rollins on second, Ruiz singled up the middle to drive home the run. After the bullpen tried to give things away in the top of the eighth, the Phillies offense responded. Cesar Hernandez walked with two outs and Rollins doubled him home to tie the game. After Tyler Clippard intentionally walked Chase Utley, Ruiz stepped up yet again, singling home Rollins to give the Phillies the lead. It was a close play at the plate and credit Rollins, as he made a fantastic slide.
Ruiz continues to swing a hot bat, as he went 2 for 3 with two RBIs out of the cleanup spot on the night. Rollins had a nice night as well, going 1 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Phillies will look to continue assuring the Nationals they are not playoff contenders tomorrow. Ethan Martin take the mound for the Phillies, as he face offs against Gio Gonzalez.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
It took the Phillies three pitchers just to get through the eighth, as Justin De Fratus, Cesar Jimenez and B.J. Rosenberg each only recorded one out. De Fratus was charged with a run after Jimenez allowed an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly, but luckily the shaky Phillies bullpen would limit the damage to one run. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth and picked up the save, but not before putting men on the corners with one out to scare everyone.
The Phillies trailed after a first inning home run by Ryan Zimmerman, but Carlos Ruiz would tie things in the fourth. With one out and Jimmy Rollins on second, Ruiz singled up the middle to drive home the run. After the bullpen tried to give things away in the top of the eighth, the Phillies offense responded. Cesar Hernandez walked with two outs and Rollins doubled him home to tie the game. After Tyler Clippard intentionally walked Chase Utley, Ruiz stepped up yet again, singling home Rollins to give the Phillies the lead. It was a close play at the plate and credit Rollins, as he made a fantastic slide.
Ruiz continues to swing a hot bat, as he went 2 for 3 with two RBIs out of the cleanup spot on the night. Rollins had a nice night as well, going 1 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Phillies will look to continue assuring the Nationals they are not playoff contenders tomorrow. Ethan Martin take the mound for the Phillies, as he face offs against Gio Gonzalez.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
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