After losing 8 straight games, the Phillies won their second straight game. After Cliff Lee had a rough start in his outing, he rebounded as the Phillies offense scored 4 unanswered runs. They scored in a span of 4 of 5 innings. Raul Ibanez continued his hot September by getting 2 clutch hits off 2 of the Braves nasty left handed relievers, Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters. With the Yankees losing to the Rays, the Phillies have clinched the best record in the Majors for the second straight year. In addition, the Cardinals lost 5-4 to the Astros in 10 innings, so the Braves remain 1 game in front of the Cardinals for the Wild Card to lower their magic number to 2.
Cliff Lee had a rough first 2 frames when he allowed a 2 out home run to Chipper Jones in the 1st then a ground rule double to Dan Uggla. Lee got Freedie Freeman to ground out to end the inning. Matt Diaz and Alex Gonzalez hit back to back doubles with 1 out to score another run. Lee settled down after that as he only allowed 1 hit to the final 15 batters he faced (Jones double) and struck out 6 in that span. Lee threw 92 pitches and 67 were strikes.
The Phillies eventually cut the Braves lead in half in the 4th when Hunter Pence and Ryan Howard hit back to back singles with 1 out. After Braves rookie starter Randall Delgado loaded the bases by walking Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez popped out for the second out. Placido Polanco singled to score Pence (Howard could have easily scored, but I’m not sure if his ankle is still giving him problems). Carlos Ruiz flew out to end the inning. Jimmy Rollins tied the game in the next inning with a home run. In the next inning, Victorino tripled with 1 out off Cristhian Martinez before Eric O’Flaherty came in to take over. Ibanez made up for his previous at bat when he singled to bring in Victorino for the Phillies to take the lead. 2 innings later with left handed Jonny Venters on the hill, Victorino doubled with 1 out before Ibanez delivered again with another RBI single.
After Joe Savery and Michael Stutes pitched a scoreless 7th, Brad Lidge came on in the 8th. Lidge punched out pinch hitter Eric Hinske for the first out then walked Michael Bourn. Martin Prado continued the inning with a single, but Jones hit into a huge 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Ryan Madson allowed a leadoff double to Uggla in the 9th, but retired the final 3 he faced to get out of the inning and to earn his 32nd save.
In the AL Wild Card race, the Red Sox struggles continue as they lost 6-3 to the Orioles and the Rays defeated the Yankees 5-2. Both teams are currently tied for the Wild Card lead. If the Rays and Red Sox end the season tied, they will play a game to determine the Wild Card champion in Boston on Thursday. Likewise if the Braves and Cardinals finish the season tied, they will have a one-game playoff on Thursday in Saint Louis.
Caught: 52-28 (80) (5-9 since September 4)
Missed: 48-32 (80)<- (28-11 since July 15)
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