Monday, August 31, 2009

Phillies End August By Extending Lead to 8 Games

Braves vs. Phillies

Joe Blanton and Jairr Jurrjens engaged in a pitching duel last evening at Citizen's Bank Park. In the end, the Phillies defense and Carlos Ruiz's big night at the plate (3-3 with 2 doubles) allowed them to prevail 3-2.


The Braves jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when Martin Prado homered to left. After that, both pitchers exchanged zeroes until Chase Utley tied the score in the bottom of the 4th with a line shot into the right field stands. The score remained tied at 1 until the 7th inning when Ruiz doubled home Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz after a throwing error by Chipper Jones put them in scoring position.


Atlanta mounted a threat in the 8th off Ryan Madson, who came on in relief of Blanton. Madson plunked Matt Diaz with a pitch, before singles by Prado and Jones made it 3-2. Charlie Manuel summoned Scott Eyre to try to work out of the two on, no out mess. Eyre induced Brian McCann to hit a sharp grounder to Utley, who flipped to Jimmy Rollins for the force at second. Rollins then reeled around and fired to Feliz to cut down Prado. Eyre completed the escape by getting Garrett Anderson to ground out.


Brad Lidge made his way in from the pen in hope of earning his second save of the series. Like Friday night, he threw a 1-2-3 inning, recording the last out on a strikeout. Overall, it was a solid win that highlighted how the Phillies superior defense wins games.

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