Eude Brito, Rick White, Aaron Fultz and Flash Gordon threw seven no-hit, no-run innings of relief, as the Phillies clawed back from a 0-5 deficit to beat the Braves 6-5.
Terrific win, but no time to admire their handiwork. Game 2 begins shortly. Tremendous job by the bullpen to pick up the pieces after two disappointing innings from starter Randy Wolf.
Jeff Conine delivered the big blow to get the Phils back in it, a two-out double to deep left that knocked in two to pull the score to 5-3. Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-5 and scored twice.
Brito pitched four solid innings to keep the Phillies in it. Rick White (4-1) earned the win for his 1 2-3 innings. Gordon had his breaking ball working and picked up his 29th save.
Jon Lieber (7-9, 4.99) gets the call for the Phillies in the second game. Lieber is 3-0 with a 3.21 ERA and a complete game in his last six starts. Atlanta will counter with Tim Hudson (12-10, 4.85), who, like Lieber, has also turned it around of late. In his last seven starts, he is 4-0 with a 3.66 ERA.
When it comes to wins, we'll take whatever we can get. I don't care if we really deserved to lose and only won based on luck...so be it at this point in the season! Winning the 2nd game is crucial, as it's something the Phils just haven't been able to do. It's a statement game, and they usually shell up...time to see if this Wild Card thing is for real. Game on!
Posted by: Drama Queen | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:00 PM
Padres 7 , Reds 0 in 3rd
Posted by: Billy Mac | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:03 PM
Burrell on bench for both games of dbl header.
Posted by: Billy Mac | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:05 PM
unreal we came away with nothing in that inning. Dancy has YET... to figure out 3rd base. It's unreal. Absolutely unreal. Why are you running on Francouer EVER. EVER. Let alone a hard hit ball...
Posted by: Mike Cunningham | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:16 PM
Alright J-Roll.
Posted by: Parker | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:26 PM
Allright Nunez for being in the unusual situation of being on base.
Posted by: Greg S. | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:28 PM
Wait how did he get there? Maybe a slide of bat trick.
Posted by: Parker | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:33 PM
How does he ever get there? He didn't hit the ball hard enough for anyone to get to it in time.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:35 PM
Will I jinx things if I talk about a 2 game winning streak this early into the game?
Posted by: disgruntled | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:40 PM
Ruiz, if you please! And looky - even Nunez gets it to the outfield. It's almost as if Hudson focused on Howard before the start and forgot about the rest of the lineup.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:46 PM
NUNEZ!!! 2 in a row, Freaking Ruiz!
Posted by: Parker | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:46 PM
All of our runs have come with 2 out. I could be completely wrong, but I don't think we've been good in that situation recently.
Posted by: Greg S. | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 08:50 PM
Can't say enough about how Lieber has consistently given the Phils quality starts down the stretch, again. Makes you wonder, just what was the problem the whole rest of the year?
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 09:44 PM
Remember how great a center fielder Aaron Rowand was supposed to be? Who knew the Phillies already had a better one in Victorino?
Much skepticism was expressed, including from myself, about how Victorino would do when 'exposed' on a regular basis. Well, now we know: this guy's a *ballplayer*. He can hit, run, field, and throw. I'm sold. His talent has been one of the most positive developments of the season.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 09:55 PM
christ, fultz doing double duty? i don't care if this works; the guy named Matt Smith should be used here.
Posted by: joe | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:10 PM
Oh well Pat, at least it wasn't a journeyman minor leaguer pinch-hitting for you this time - just a guy who was out of baseball for two years.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:27 PM
Awright Abe! That one was for RickSchuBlues, I saw you point.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:32 PM
RSB - Since it's 7-2 now, whose pitching the 9th?
Posted by: Eileen | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:35 PM
NUNEZ NOW OVER MENDOZA LINE! EXTRA! EXTRA!
Posted by: strange | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:35 PM
hopefully, _anyone_ except flash.
Posted by: joe | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:36 PM
They'll probably have to use Gordon anyway after Madson gets done giving up his usual two hits and a walk.
Feel free to make me eat that, too, Ryan.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:38 PM
Here's Nunez' line for tonight's game:
3AB - 1R - 3H - 2RBI - 2BB - 0SO
That's gotta be his best offensive game all season.
Posted by: strange | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:38 PM
Still very much alive! Nice doubleheader sweep! Let's go for the series sweep tomorrow!
The Giants and Rockies are scoreless in the bottom of the 2nd. Also, the Pads are only one game behind the Dodgers for the lead in the NL West.
Posted by: Jon | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:44 PM
Madson does it! A sweep of the Braves!!! Are the Mets still beating FLA?
Posted by: Eileen | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:44 PM
Zowee! A doubleheader sweep. It all looked so bleak, down 5-0 in the second inning of the first game. I'll try not to get discouraged like that again, even when they lose 2 of 3 at home to the Cubs.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:45 PM
I have tickets to the 9/20 Cubs and the 9/23 Marlins games - perhaps these might mean something after all? One can hope - GO PHILS!
Posted by: Eileen | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:48 PM
After that doubleheader sweep, I propose that "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" be the Phillies theme song and played before every game -- by 500 massed banjos, if possible.
Posted by: Nat | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:50 PM
Chevy Player of the Game: Carlos Ruiz, who's starting to look comfortable at the plate. He's hit the ball hard since his latest callup.
Ruiz, Brito, Conine, Nunez ... couple of unexpected heroes tonight.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:54 PM
My player of the game is Lieber. Ruiz did his share, but this win was all about the pitching.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:59 PM
RSB - I agree! Hopefully, Lieber is baaaaaack to his September form! If so, couldn't come at a better time. Marlins finally lost two games in a row - When was the last time that happened? That team still scares me a little.
Posted by: Eileen | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:07 PM
i am starting to like Closer!Madson
Posted by: joe | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:11 PM
Not to get greedy but.....LET's GO ROCKIES!
Posted by: Eileen | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:13 PM
Rockies just blew it open with 7 in the 5th. You'll noticed the Phillies' turnaround immediately followed my R.I.P. in the comments for the last post. I knew if I decided they were dead they'd bounce back again.
Posted by: Mike | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:56 PM
What a night! Who'd'a thunk it! Whee!
(No stats in this post. All heart, no mind.)
Posted by: Lake Fred | Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:58 PM
And the Padres answered back with 4. I'll keep my mouth shut.
Posted by: Mike | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 12:06 AM
Nice work by the Phils tonight. Always tough to take 2. Phils had absolutely no business winning game one but the Braves were nice enough to finally cut the Phils a break. Most diasppointing thing was Wolf. I know he is coming back from a major injury but he really hasn't shown much of anything this season. If Phils are going to catch the Padres, they need Wolf to give them a shot at winning. He just didn't do that tonight.
Posted by: MG | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 12:48 AM
Madson is a decent setup man but I really hope the Phils' don't start using him there with any regularity.
Posted by: MG | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 12:50 AM
Funny thing about Wolf since returning...he hasn't pitched that well in many of the games, but he has yet to lose.
I'm really liking Ruiz. I followed him in the minors since last season, and the man could hit and I think he'll show that in the Majors...future starter.
I too speculated Victorino as an everyday player. Well, he's proving that he produces better when starting rather than being a 4th outfielder...great development on the season, yet another positive. That allows the Phils to trade Rowand to address others areas.
I'm very glad Conine is on this team, and I'll be happy to have him back next season. He's not flashy, he's not even that much above average, but there's something about him that I like, just can't put my finger on it.
Interesting comment above about Fultz by "joe". He's been regulated to rest over the past week, then Manuel pitches him in both games of the twin bill...c'mon! Don't make his arm fall off too, especially when Matt "Generic Name" Smith could have been used. But I'm done complaining...we won both games...still alive and kicking!
Posted by: Drama Queen | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 06:21 AM
Really starting to like Ruiz, just hope he's not juicing again.
1.5 back with 17 to play, not too bad, big games the rest of the way, every one matters. The phils need to gain another game by the end of this weekend.
Posted by: Will | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 09:43 AM
Unless I missed something, I think you're referring to Randy Ruiz, the Reading first basemen who tested positive twice last season.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 09:46 AM
Will, I think it was randy ruiz who tested positive for a banned substance, not chooch.
Posted by: Oisin | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 09:50 AM
oh yeah, sorry, my bad.
All this time I had the wrong guy in my head. I like carlos a lot more now.
Posted by: Will | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 09:55 AM
Just checked WTBS schedule. The Phillies game will be broadcast tonight on the cable superstation (with Atlanta announcers). I hate the Braves...and the Mets...and the Marlins...and now the Padres.
Posted by: Lake Fred | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 10:49 AM
Lake Fred- basically hate everyone but the Phils...it's safer that way!
Posted by: Drama Queen | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 12:17 PM
I was happy to watch it --
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