Earlier on Sunday across Pattison Avenue at Lincoln Financial Field, the Philadelphia Eagles held a 23-3 lead midway through the 3rd quarter and were looking towards their first win since Week 1 against the Rams. However, the San Franscisco Niners scored 21 unanswered points on 3 touchdowns to win it by 1 point, 24-23 which gave the Eagles their third straight loss this year. About 4 hours after the conclusion of the Eagles game, a similar thing happened at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies chased Chris Carpenter who was pitching on 3 days rest early in the game and jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after 2 innings. However, the Cardinals bullpen picked up the slack and did not allow a run on only 1 hit in the final 7 innings. Cliff Lee did not have his best stuff as he allowed 5 runs on 12 hits in 6+ innings. However, he did manage to strike out 9 batters. Also credit goes to home plate umpire Jerry Meals (remember him?) who had a postage stamp strike zone on the Phillies.
The Phillies got to Chris Carpenter early in the game when Jimmy Rollins led off with a double which was short of clearing the wall then Carpenter walked Chase Utley and Hunter Pence to load the bases. Ryan Howard followed with a single to drive in 2 runs then 1 out later, Raul Ibanez singled in Pence. Placido Polanco hit into a double play to end the inning. After Carpenter retired the first 2 in the next inning, Rollins doubled again then Utley walked. Pence singled to score Rollins and put the Phillies up 4-0. In the next inning, Carpenter pitched a 1-2-3 inning before getting taken out. He went 3 innings and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits (all within 2 innings), and 3 walks. After Carpenter departed from the game, the Phillies only had 2 runners on base and recorded only 1 hit. The Cards bullpen allowed 1 over the minimum as Rollins who got a single in the 7th inning was picked off.
Cliff Lee had a rough postseason outing. He lasted 6 innings, but allowed 5 runs on a career high 12 hits. In the 1st, Rafael Furcal led off with a triple, but Lee managed to strand him at third by punching out Allen Craig, getting Albert Pujols to pop out and Lance Berkman grounding out. Likewise in the next inning, David Freese doubled to lead off, but Lee stranded him on second. The wheels for Lee started to come off in the 4th when he walked Berkman to lead off then 1 out later, Yadier Molina singled. Ryan Theriot followed with a double to bring in Berkman then Jon Jay singled in Molina (Jay went to second on the throw). After Lee punched out former Phillie Nick Punto, Furcal singled to bring in Theriot which was the 3rd run and 4th hit off Lee in the frame and brought the Cards to within 1 run. The Phillies got out of any more trouble when left fielder Raul Ibanez thew home to Carlos Ruiz who tagged Jay out at home as he hung on to the ball. After Lee’s crisp and only 1-2-3 inning in the 5th, he had more trouble in the 6th. After Lee got the first 2 out, Theriot doubled then Jay brought him in with a RBI single. Pinch hitter Skip Schumaker reached on an infield single, but Lee prevented further damage when Furcal grounded out to end the inning. In the following inning, Craig tripled to lead off then scored on a Pujols single to take a 5-4 lead and to silence the Bank. Berkman followed with a single to put runners on the corners and to take Lee out of the game. Of Lee’s 12 hits allowed, 5 of them were for extra bases. Also, he allowed 3 straight hits 3 times. Brad Lidge came in and got Freese to hit into a fielders choice when Pujols was out at home, but both runners advanced into scoring position. After Lidge intentionally walked Molina, Theriot hit into a double play to prevent further damage.
This loss for the Phillies will send the series back to Saint Louis on Tuesday where they will face Phillie killer Jamie Garcia. In 4 starts against the Phillies, he is 2-0, with a 0.96 ERA. He will face Cole Hamels who is 2-3, 3.27 in his 9 starts against the Cardinals. However, Hamels holds a .202 opponents batting average in 5 starts in Saint Louis. The last time Hamels pitched at Busch Stadium, he threw 8 shutout innings en route to a 2-0 win in 12 innings on July 22, 2010. That win kick started the Phillies tear after they were in third place to start the post ASB portion of the schedule. Tuesday’s game will be very, very pivotal since it will only take 1 more win to win the series. Which southpaw will prevail in the battle of lefties?
Caught: 0-1 (1)<-
Missed: 1-0 (1)
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