Fightin’ Phils Show Heart in Comeback Win

The Phillies took two out of three from the Atlanta Braves earlier this week in Atlanta. Tonight they invaded Nationals Park to face the first place Nats.

Jerome Williams had done nothing but win since joining the Phillies. In four starts, he had never allowed more than two runs. All four were quality starts and he won three of them. The same could not be said tonight, as the Nationals got to him early.

Williams allowed two first inning runs to give Washington the early lead. Though he walked only two, National hitters were able to make Williams work, something that had not happened in his previous starts. He threw a total of 89 pitches in just five innings.

Williams would allow another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. He departed with his team down 5-0, and allowed a total of nine hits on the night.

The Phils would fight back, finally getting on the board in the sixth inning. Ryan Howard would add a solo home run in the seventh inning to make it 5-2. After that smash it seems like the Phillies could be a gamblers to favorite choice when looking for a site for betting on sports.

Ryne Sandberg would call on recent call-up Mike Adams to pitch the seventh inning. Adams has battled injuries pretty much since he arrived in Philadelphia last year. He has struggled in most of his opportunities on the mound, and did so again tonight. He did not retire a batter, and allowed two runs on two hits and a walk. The Nationals’ lead was back to five at 7-2.

The Phillies would claw back again in the eighth, when Grady Sizemore reached with one out. Ben Revere would follow with a walk to put men on first and second. Jimmy Rollins would then reach base on a fielder’s choice that sent Sizemore to third. With two outs now in the inning, Chase Utley stepped in and doubled Sizemore home.

The lead was cut to 7-3, and the Phils had men on second and third. Howard followed that with a single to score Rollins and make it 7-4.

The Phillies would score again in their last at-bat, starting with a lead off single by Dom Brown. Carlos Ruiz then hit a two run shot to left field to bring the Phils within a run at 7-6.

That’s when the Phillies showed their true colors, ones that have shown more of late than they have all season.

Ben Revere stepped in with two outs and his team down by a run, and managed to tie the game up with a solo home run to right field. It was Revere’s second homer of the year and also the second of his entire career. That round-tripper capped off the Phillies’ comeback, tying the game at 7-7.

The Phillies were able to overcome the early five run deficit, and also recover from Adams’ deflating and frustrating seventh inning. Revere’s home run extended the game, and Ken Giles would worked a perfect ninth to send the game to extra innings.

Jake Diekman walked two in the bottom of the 10th, but did not allow a run.

Dom Brown led off the the 11th inning with a fly-ball to left center-field. Denard Span & Bryce Harper would bump into each other, allowing the ball to drop in. Brown would reach second on the play, and advanced to third on a sac bunt by Ruiz.

Youngster Maikel Franco stepped in next, and roped a sharp grounder to first baseman Tyler Moore. Moore’s throw home was a bit up the line and hit Brown as he slid across home plate. The Phils led 8-7, coming all the way back from two separate five run deficits.

Franco would advance to third and score on a single by, who else, Revere. Ben went 3-5 tonight with three runs batted in, a stolen base, and oh by the way he leads the National League in hitting with a .316 average.

Jonathan Papelbon came on in the bottom of the 11th, and worked a dicey inning. He would allow two hits and a run, but was able to shut the door to earn the save.

The Phils face the Nats again tomorrow in hopes of tying the series up. A.J. Burnett takes the hill against Tanner Roark for Washington. First pitch 4:05.

Stats Courtesy of Phillies.com

Photo Courtesy of Sports.Yahoo.com