Pre-game:
Domonic Brown was supposed to bat 7th tonight, but he suffered a quad strain during last night's game.
Might that be the reason Brown was thrown out by 10 feet in the second inning?? Hmmm
Jayson Werth - who turned into a puddle when the Phils were in Florida last month - will bat 7th and play right.
Top 1st:
With one out, Logan Morrison - the World's Greatest Hitter in the World - comes up. Phils starter Joe Blanton couldn't finish his pre-game plate of E.L. Fudge cookies, so he offers one to Morrison. Double to right.
But Blanton zips the cookie bag shut by retiring Hanley Ramriez and Dan Uggla - both of whom are far more accomplished than WGHIW.
Bottom 1st: 0-0
The trio of Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco and Chase Utley allows Marlins starter Chris Volstad out of the inning on just 8 pitches.
Brilliant.
Top 2nd: 0-0
Charlie Manuel has struggled to cure Phillie batting slumps this year, but he seems to have fixed Marlins slugger Mike Stanton. The rookie with the .246 batting average sends a double over Victorino's head in center.
Now if he can only get opposing pitchers to lob 90-mph Napalm to Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibaez
After an 11-pitch at-bat that lasts longer than my wife's C-section, Cameron Maybin sends a lazer beam off Blanton's glove for a 1-3 grounder to first. Blanton then walks Brad Davis to get to Volstad, who grounds out to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd 0-0:
Using a short swing against a looping curve ball, Ryan Howard continues his dominance of Volstad by lining a leadoff double to left-center.
Rollins follows by trying to bunt the first pitch he sees. The Naked Emperor takes umbrage.
Chris Wheeler: "Rollins bunted on his own. He's in the five-hole but he's still thinking like a leadoff guy."
Don Pigeon: "Right, Chris. Phillie fans see more solar eclipses than Jimmy Rollins bunt attempts."
Chris Volstad must not have liked the bunt attempt either. The righthander lobs a slow change-up to Rollins as if to say; Bunt This!
Even more amazing than the bunt attempt, Rollins takes a nice level swing and sends the cripple to the right-field corner to score Howard easily from 2nd.
Top 3rd: PHI 1 - FLA 0
Bonofocio tries to bunt for the 2nd time, and this time succeeds by sending the ball toward Rollins at short.
Perhaps the Phils might want to call a high-inside fastball the next time Bonofacio bats?
Blanton appears to retire the Worlds's Greatest Hitter in the World, but Ryan Howard has a panic attack when he realizes that he needs to throw to second base. His double-clutch and last-second throw nearly kills Joe Blanton covering first, as he is unable to maintain the ball while keeping his foot on the bag. Infield single for Morrison.
GOING PIGEON PRESENTS: NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Philadelphia Region's Scariest Haunted Attractions - as ranked by Ryan Howard.
3. - Bates Motel, Lima, PA
2 - Terror Behind the Walls, Philadelphia, PA
1 - Jimmy Rollins waitng for a force throw at second base.
The big piece says: BOO!
The free-swinging Marlins continue their small-ball assault with a pair of sacrifice grounders and an RBI single by Gaby Sanchez.
Top 4th: FLA 2 - PHI 1
Blanton lobs a beer-league curve ball to Cameron Maybin, who swings from his heels and blasts a drive off the CF fence. Catcher Brad Davis plates Maybin with a sacrifice grounder to third.
Bottom 4th: FLA 3 - PHI 1
Raul Ibanez keeps his hands back on a 3-1 outer-half fastball and homers to left-center.
Gary Matthews notes that Ibanez settles into hitting streaks when he stops trying to pull everything.
From your lips to God's ears, my man! That's been the 2010 hitting problem for the entire team!
Bottom 5th: FLA 3 - PHI 2
With the Braves locked in a scoreless 6th inning tie with Pittsburgh, the Phils start dreaming of a chance to reclaim first place.
Shane Victorino brings that dream closer to reality when he drops the barrell on an inside change-up from Volstad for a solo HR.
Placido Polanco nearly gives the Phils the lead with a fly bal that Mike Stanton tries to misplay in front of the RF Fence.
Two batters later, Ryan Howard does the honors with an opposite-field blast.
Much to the chagrin of Frontrunners across the region who love to boo Jimmy Rollins, the mercurial shortstop keeps his bat level and lines a tough inside fastball to right field.
Rollins ignites the crowd first by stealing second, then by scoring on an banez single.
Top 7th: PHI 5 - FLA 3
After huffing and puffing his way though 6.1 innings, Joe Blanton is pulled from the game in favor of Antonio Bastardo following a one-out walk to Bonofacio.
But Bastardo is no match for the World's Greatest Hitter in the World, who launches a double just beyond Victorino's reach.
Bottom 7th: PHI 5 - FLA 4
The Marlin bullpen that blew a 6-1 lead in Atlanta last Sunday to keep the Braves in first place now has an opportunity to bring some love the Citizens Bank Park.
Jorge Sosa is happy to oblige as he leaves a slider over the plate for a Placido Polanco leadoff single, then sends another through the legs of catcher Brad Davis to move Polly to second.
Following an Utley groundout, Jimmy Rollins finally hits a warning track fly ball when there's a runner on third base!
Raul Ibanez then continues his resurgence by slamming a triple to the gap in right center to score Howard.
Top 8th: PHI 7 - FLA 4.
About six weeks ago, when Brad Lidge was blowing saves in Washington, pundits began asking who should be closing for the Phils.
At the time, I would say Joes Contreras because he was more unflappable than the supremely talented but fear-striken Ryan Madson.
Nights like this make me glad that Lidge has regained his form.
Contreras sends Mike Stanton some 92-mph Nitro Love that soars into the left-field seats.
Following a Brad Davis double, Jayson Werth's chronic brain lock resurfacees when Bonofacio grounds a single his way. Werth decides to make a fancy running lob to Polanco, who stops expecitng a throw when the slow footed Davis approaches third base. Bonofacio scores on the error.
An obscure replay shows Houston righthander Brett Myers sticking his tounge out at Werth on Phanavision just before he picked up the Bonofacio single.
And to think I was relieved that Domonic Brown's Little League caliber defense woudn't cost the Phils a win tonight!
JC Romero enters the game and promply balks the runners up a base, then walks Mighty Casey - err, Morrison.
I guess that GNC supplement cost Mr. Romero a few brain cells after all!
Ryan Madson eventually cleams up the mess, but not before sendjng a two-strike changeup off the kneecap of Carlos Ruiz to score Bonofacio with the tying run,
Bottom 8th: 7-7
On a night of Marlin small-ball and Phillie home runs, the home team turns the tables when it matters most.
After Shane Victorino lobs a single over the Marlin infield and steals 2nd base, Polanco puts a perfect opposite field swing on an outside fastball put the Phils ahead 8-7.
With Brad Lidge unavailable due to the numerous nail-bitters over the past few week. Ryan Madson returns to the mound for the 9th inning, and gets the final three outs with a minimum of drama.
In the words of our beloved Phils skipper; "I think Ryan done just growed up!"
Final score: Phillies 8 - Marlins 7
Final score from Pittsburgh: Pirates 5 - Braves 0.
The Phils are officially back in first place for the first time since May 30.
Hey Bobby Cox!
Yo Billy Redneck!
Objects in the rearview mirror are . . .
NOT THERE ANYMORE, SUCKER!!!
I am Don Pigeon and I am OUT!!!
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