Pre-game:
For the second straight day, the Phils will start a right-handed pitcher with historical stuggles against the Nationals. Joe Blanton (7-6, 5.00 ERA) enters the contest with a career 6.45 ERA against Washington.
More encouraging is Blanton's 3.50 ERA and 4-1 record over his 12 starts since the All-Star break.
Top 1st:
Blanton starts out strong - striking out Danny '1-2-3 strikes your out' Espinosa with a sweet change-up. He then shatters Ian Desmond's bat for a 1-3 groundout before blowing away Ryan Zimmerman with a 90-mph fastball at his armpits.
GONG PIGEON PRESENTS: NON-SEQUITR
Joe Blanton blows away Ryan Zimmerman
Bottom 1st: 0-0
The Phils will be tested against another Hispanic righthander, Yunesky Maya ,with terrible stats (6.53 ERA)but the funky kind of style that has given them fits throughout the Charlie Manual era.
Ryan Zimmerman gifts the Phils a scoring chance when he fires an off balance throws past Adam Dunn on Chase Utley's 2-out grounder.
Following a semi-intentional walk to Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth grounds weakly to short on a hanging curve ball to end the inning.
Bottom 2nd: 0-0
The Phils mount another threat when Raul Ibanez walks, moves to second on a balk and moves to third on Brian Schneider's infield single.
Wilson Valdez comes up with a runner at 3rd and no outs. Valdez has been often compared to Jimmy Rollins over the past week, and he does a great Rollins impersonation here as he jams himself on a 1-0 88-mph fastball.
Jimmy Rollins leaps off the bench and screams to Manual . . ."Put me in coach! I'm ready to play . . . today!!"
Joe Blanton manages to fail on three bunt attempts for the second out. Like Valdez before him, Victorino jams himself - this time on a hanging curve - and flies out harmlessly.
Top 3rd: 0-0
The baseball gods take revenge on Joe Blanton and the Phillies for failing to score in the home second, as Willie Harris blasts a hanging two-strike changeup into the right-field seats.
Botton 3rd: WSH 1 - PHI 0
After Polando flies weakly to right, Chase Utley works a 3-2 count. But on a bright sunny afternoon, Utley somehow fails to pick up Maya's 78-mph curveball. The result is T-ball dribbler to mound for an easy out.
Ryan Howard works a 3-2 count of his own, before jumping at a hanging 72-mph curve for another easy out.
Bottom 4th: WSH 1 - PHI 0
Jayson Werth opens the inning in CroMagnon mode as he muscles a bat-handle liner into center field for a single. Raul Ibanez drops a beer-league softball swing on a 2-1 curve and guides it through the hold past second base, sending an alert Jayson Werth to 3rd.
GOING PIGEON PRESENTS: NON-SEQUITR (2)
Alert Jayson Werth
Junesky Maya reached the fourth inning scoreless by avoiding the Nitro Zone on every pitch of the afternoon.
When Maya finally leaves Napalm over the plate, Brian Scheider is ready and sends a double off the center field wall to score Werth and Ibanez.
Top 5th: PHI 2 - WSH 1
The Nationals threaten as Mike Morse and Pudge Rodriguez hit singles off of Cowboy Joe. But with runners at the corners and two outs, the ever-dependable Danny '1-2-3 strikes you're out!' Espinosa waives through a fastball to retire the side.
Bottom 5th: PHI 2 - WSH 1
Maya starts the fifth by thumping a fastball off Polanco's waist.
Following a fly-out by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard is called out on an 'Evil Knevil' curveball that jumps the strike zone. Fortunately, Polanco is running on the pitch and steals second base.
The Brain scores easily when Jayson Werth lines a single to right field.
Top 6th: PHI 3 - WSH 1
The Nationals threaten once more an Ian Desmond single and an Adam Dunn walk put runners on first and second. Blanton gets the second out when Roger Bernadina pops out, and gets Mike Morse into a 1-2 count.
But the stubborn right-fielder fights off a pair of fouls and is rewarded with a cookie sprinkled with Napalm. Morse blasts the cripple into the seats behind Jayson Werth.
Top 7th: WSH 4 - PHI 3
With the Phils trailing in what looked like a sure victory just ten minutes earlier, Charlie Manual brings Danys Baez in to pitch the seventh inning.
But after two easy outs, Baez sends some 93-mph Napalm toward Danny '1-2-3 strikes you're out'. Espinosa avenges his Going Pigeon nickname with a solo HR to extend the Washington lead.
Top 8th: WSH 5 - PHI 3
With the Phils trailing in what looked like a sure victory just twenty minutes earlier, Charlie Manual brings J.C. Romero in to pitch the eighth inning
But after two easy outs, Romero surrenders a double to Roger Bernadina, an intentional walk to Mike Morse and an RBI single to Willie Harris.
GOING PIGEON PRESENTS: FAIR WEATHER FAN
4:42 PM - The past 60 minutes have not been kind to Don Pigeon.
First, the Braves rallied from a 2-1 7th inning deficit to defeat the NY Mets and cut the Phils NL East lead to 2.5 games.
Then Joe Blanton goes into Apocalypse Now mode and gives up a 3-run home run to Mike Morse that puts the Phils behind to the Nationals.
Next, the Minnesota Vikings lose 14-10 to the Miami Dolphins to knock Don out of the 2010 Suicide Pool at his office. Little Pigeon is going to have to wait a while for that car when he turns 16.
As Placido Polando steps to the plate to begin the Phillies ninth, Don takes a break from sports to bring his daughter to a movie matinee.
Bottom 9th: WSH 6 - PHI 3
Drew Storen comes in to try and close a getaway win for Washington.
Between pitches, close-ups reveal that Storen resembles a young Brad Lidge.
While Don is driving his daughter to the movies, the Bus Lady notices this and remembers that Washington torched Brad Lidge a month ago for a Saturday night walk-off win.
Placido Polanco leads off with a ground single to left. Chase Utley follows with an opposite-field double in the left-field corner.
This is promising, but remember, the Phils began the seventh inning with a pair of hits by Polanco and Utley, only to see Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth struck out to kill the threat.
But after getting Howard to chase a high 95-mph fastball, Pudge Rodriguez forgets to call for a curve ball. Storen's 0-1 fastball comes in at the knees, which is Nitro Zone for a left-handed bat. Howard smashes a liner to center to score Polanco and Utley.
With the score 6-5, Jayson Werth represents the game-winning run.
The battle is very long and very satisfying
94-mph high, 93-mph low, 94-mph fouled back, 83-mph high/inside, 94-mph fouled off, 84-mph fouled off
94-mph fouled back . . .
Somewhere in Chester County, a Phillies fan and his daughter park at a movie theater as Jayson Werth battles Drew Storen.
With the film about to start, Don shuts off the Philies game and heads toward the box office.
The cell phone in his pocket rings . . .
Bus Lady: "Well, it's a 6-5 game now
Don: Yeah, I know . . . Werth was still batting when I parked . . . what did he end up do -
94-mph: 425-FOOT WALK OFF HOME RUN
Bud Lady: Oh My God, they won! Werth just hit a homer.
So easy - a CAVEMAN could do it!!!
Final score: Phillies 7 - Nationals 6
Final score from Flushing: Braves 6 - Mets 3
Magic number to clinch the NL East: 10
I am Don Pigeon and I am OUT!!!
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