Another four home runs game, this time in support of rookie Vance Worley, leads the Phils to a 7-2 routing of the World Champions Giants.
Four home runs, including the third career inside-the-park home run by Chase Utley, behind rookie starter Vance Worley, leads the Phils to a rout of the World Champions Giants, 7-2.
The Giants took the lead in the first as, with a man on third, and with one man out, Pablo Sandoval hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Andres Torres, who had earlier doubled, then stopped at third on Jeff Keppinger’s ground out, 6-3, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. The Phils tied it up at one-all in their half of the first as, with one man on, and with two men out, Ryan Howard hits an RBI double, knocking in Chase Utley, who had earlier singled. Two batters later, after Shane Victorino had walked, Raul Ibanez gave the Phils the lead as he hits a three-run home run, his fourteenth home run of the season, giving the Phils a 4-1 lead. The Phils added to their lead in the fourth as, with two men out, John Mayberry Jr. hits a solo home run, his sixth home run of the year, giving the Phils a 5-1 lead. The Phils then took a 6-1 lead in the sixth as Utley lead-off the inning hitting a hard ball to left center field that hit against the fence, before bouncing away from center fielder Torres, which allowed Utley, who was running all the way, to cross home plate, before the throw, with an iniside-the-park home run, his seventh home run of the season, and the third itp home run of his career. The Giants got a run back in the eighth as, with two men out, pinch hitter Aaron Rowand hits a solo pinch hit home run, his fourth home run of the season, cutting the Phils’ lead down to 6-2. The Phils would get the run back in their half of the eighth as, with two men out, Howard hits a monster shot to center field, his twentieth home run of the year, giving the Phils a 7-2 lead. That would be the final score as Vance Worley would complete his first career complete game by pitching an easy ninth.
Vance Worley (7-1, 2.02) got the win as he pitched a complete game, giving up just two runs on three hits and a walk, while he struck out five. Barry Zito, who was pitching in place of a sick Tim Lincecum (stomach flu), took the lost (3-3, 5.24), as he went seven inning, giving up six runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out four. Guillermo Mota pitched an inning, giving up a run on a hit.
The Phils had seven hits in the ballgame, with Chase Utley (Single, Home Run, RBI), Ryan Howard (Double, Home Run, 2 RBI) and John Mayberry, Jr. (Double, Home Run, RBI) all leading the team with two hits apiece. Raul Ibanez had the other Phil hit, a three-run home run, knocking in three runs.
The Phils (65-37, 1st East) continue their series with the World Champions Giants (59-44, 1st West) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park, and is suppose to start at 7:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound Cole Hamels (12-5, 2.62), who is coming off a win against the Padres on July 22, as he went eight strong innings, giving up a run on three hits and a walk, while striking out ten, in the Phils’ 3-1 win. He will be going for win number thirteen. The Giants will counter with Matt Cain (8-6, 3.06), who is coming off a lost to the Brewers, as he went six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out two, in the Giants’ 4-2 lost. He will be trying to even up the series for the Giants. The Phils will be going for their tenth straight series win tonight.
