How do the Phillies follow up their reclaiming of first place in the NL East? With a game that was almost too much fun to watch. The first inning brought two quick scores by the Phillies, as the Phils jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
The party came to a halt however, when Jimmy Rollins left the game with a, then, undisclosed injury in the third inning. The Phillies are now calling it "tightness in the hamstring."
Rollins didn't look quite right running to second base on his two-out double in the third. His approach to second base came with a peculiar arrival, as he chooses not to slide, despite the ball arriving in a close play.
Rollins looked upset as he exited the game. Jimmy Rollins is the anchor to this team, and they seem to play better with him in the lineup.
Rollins missed 59 games this season, and the Phillies seemed to drag along during that period. Since then, into September, the Phillies have been rolling. They have found themselves in first place, winning eight of their last ten games.
Tonight was a beautiful follow up to the commandeering of first place. Cole Hamels didn't allow a single run in seven innings of work, seemingly, furthering the presence of Philadelphia's 'big three' on the National League.
Matt Gelb, of the Philly.com, reports on the luck the Phillies are commonly known to live on:
"Luck, as in Jimmy Rollins just keeping a line drive fair inside the third-base line in the third inning Wednesday. Luck, as in the ball bouncing off the fencing of the stands that jut out, meaning Marlins leftfielder Logan Morrison could reach the ball quicker. Luck, as in Rollins looking up and seeing he had to bust it just a little harder."
Gelb also reported on the hands down skill that the high powered offense is know for also.
"Ryan Howard drove in six runs - one short of his career high - including three on an opposite-field blast in the fourth that left little doubt in the game's result. The team's newest lead-off hitter, Shane Victorino, was on base three times and scored each time. Chase Utley added two more RBIs to his torrid September."
But the perfect night comes with the anxiety of losing the team catalyst in the thick of a pennant race.
The bullpen gave up six runs in the eighth inning, but did enough to hold up the eventual win. The Phillies came away with the 10-6 victory over the Florida Marlins.
The Braves held up their end, winning 9-3 over the Pittsburgh Pirates, keeping the Phillies lead at .5 games ahead of those pesky Braves.
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