The Phillies will look to even the series at 2 games each tonight. They’ll look to their big righty, Joe Blanton to get the job done. He’ll be opposed by Yankees ace CC Sabathia. Sabathia is started Game 1, and despite pitching a good game, Cliff Lee was simply better. Sabathia is starting on 3 days rest, after a 113 pitch performance on Wednesday night.
The key to this game will be the Phillies offense. Ryan Howard, after a torrid NLDS and NLCS, has struggled mightily. He, not Blanton or Sabathia, could be the key to this game. Howard has to get things going, as he is this team’s biggest run producer. He’s been fed a steady diet of fastballs in and breaking balls away, and he’s either got to find a way to adjust, or stay alive long enough to let the pitcher make a mistake.
After a deflating Game 3, the Phillies Phaithful will have to show up big tonight. The Phillies need this crowd to be loud and do their best to help get the home team rolling, and to get in this Yankee team’s heads. However, this Phillies team needs to give their fans something to cheer about first.
During the game, I’ll be posting comments and thoughts after innings 3, 6, and at the conclusion of the game.
Innings 1-3
- Blanton gave up a pair of leadoff hits, but managed to escape the 1st after giving up only 2 runs.
- A-Fraud was hit for the 3rd time in 2 nights, and both teams received warnings…
- Back to back doubles by Victorino and Utley resulted in the first Phillies run. Utley narrowly missed out on a 2 run homerun, with a double off the right-centerfield wall.
- The Phillies have done a good job working Sabathia’s pitch count up in the early part of this game. He’s at 46 pitches with 27 for strikes through 3 innings.
- Blanton’s pitch count is at just 32 pitches through 3 innings, with 20 for strikes. He hasn’t given up a hit since the double to Damon in the 1st.
Innings 4-6
- After a single by Ryan Howard, a stolen base, then an RBI single by Pedro Feliz, the Phillies finally tied the game at 2 thanks to 2 of their coldest hitters coming through.
- After a leadoff walk and an infield hit to start the 5th, however, the Phillies gave up 2 more runs to fall behind 4-2. Blanton worked out of the 2 on, 0 out jam to escape after giving up just 2 runs thanks to flyouts from Teixeira and A-Roid.
- Philadelphia had a great chance in the bottom of the 5th inning. Rollins and Victorino both reached to start the inning, but Sabathia was able to get Utley and Howard to pop out before striking out Jayson Werth. Blown opportunities like that can come back to haunt you, so let’s hope that the Phillies can get some more opportunities and capitalize on them. Plenty of baseball left to be played.
- Blanton has thrown 94 pitches through 6 innings, giving up 5 hits, 2 walks, 4 runs and striking out 7. He’ll likely be replaced by Chan Ho Park to start the 7th.
- Sabathia is at 95 pitches through 6 innings. The bottom of the Phillies order was unable to be patient with Sabathia and work the count, and despite allowing a hit, he was able to get through the 6th inning on just 7 pitches.
- Melky Cabrera appeared to pull something in his leg and was replaced in centerfield by Brett Gardner.
Defend Broad Street 