Phillies at Cardinals/vs. Rockies May 16-19 Series Thread

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An otherwise satisfactory 9-6 stretch against National League East opponents ended on a down note for the Phillies, as they dropped the final two games of a three-game set against the Braves in Atlanta. Major League Baseball now enters its annual "Squeeze Week" in which each team plays a pair of two-game series before a brief foray into Interleague Play over the weekend. The Phils will start the week on the road as they conclude an eight-game road trip before finishing the week at home as part of a nine-game homestand

The first opponent for the Phillies during the Squeeze Week will be the St. Louis Cardinals, who return home after a sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds left them at 2-4 on the most recent road trip. This will be the first of two visits to St. Louis for the Phillies this season, the only non-NL East city the Phils will visit more than once. They will come back for three games June 21-23 as the lone National League series that fills out the schedule during Interleague Play. The Cardinals will visit Philadelphia for four games September 16-19. These two teams split eight games last season, with the home team winning three games each

The other Squeeze Week opponent will be the Colorado Rockies, who will be hitting the road after an eight-game homestand. It'll be the only visit to Philadelphia for the Rockies this season, with the Phils heading to Denver August 1-3. The Phillies were 6-1 against Colorado last season, including a four-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park

Pitching Matchups

Monday (7:05, Comcast SportsNet): Cliff Lee vs. Jake Westbrook

Lee got a no-decision against the Florida Marlins last time out, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings in a game the Phillies would win, 5-3. It was his fifth straight start without a win, even though he hasn't allowed more than four runs in any of those starts. Lee last faced the Cardinals on June 14, 2009 as a member of the Cleveland Indians, tossing a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 victory. He is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two career starts against St. Louis

Westbrook was hit hard by the Chicago Cubs in his last start, allowing five runs on six hits over two and 1/3 innings in an 11-4 loss. His only career start against the Phillies to date came on June 23 of last season while with the Indians. Westbrook got a no-decision in that game, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings in a game the Phils won, 7-6

Tuesday (8:15, PHL 17): Roy Oswalt vs. Jaime Garcia

Oswalt is expected to return from the disabled list after missing three weeks due to a back injury and personal matters. His last start was a 7-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 26, when he allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. Oswalt has not faced the Cardinals since 2009, when he was a member of the Houston Astros. He is 9-8 with a 3.19 ERA in 28 lifetime appearances against St. Louis (27 starts) and was also the 2005 NLCS MVP after defeating the Cards twice in that series

Garcia is showing no signs of a sophomore slump, as he improved to 5-0 after allowing a run on nine hits over seven innings in a 9-1 win over the Cubs last time out. He was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Phillies last season and is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four career appearances against them, with the other two outings coming in relief

Wednesday (7:05, Comcast SportsNet): Cole Hamels vs. Jorge De La Rosa

Hamels had his first subpar start since his season debut last time out, allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings against the Braves. He did not get a decision in a game the Phillies won, 5-4. Hamels last faced the Rockies in Game 2 of the 2009 NLDS, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings in a 5-4 loss. His only regular season start against Colorado came on April 10, 2009, when he was hammered for seven runs on 11 hits over three and 2/3 innings in a 10-3 loss

De La Rosa allowed five runs on nine hits over five and 2/3 innings against the San Diego Padres in his last start, but still managed to come away with a 12-7 victory. He last faced the Phillies in 2009 and probably hasn't missed them in the time since, as he is 0-3 with a 9.78 ERA in six career appearances against the Phils, four of which are starts

Thursday (7:05, Comcast SportsNet): Joe Blanton vs. Jhoulys Chacin

Blanton's last start did not begin auspiciously, as he allowed home runs to the first two Braves batters he faced. He shut Atlanta out on three hits over five innings after that, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 5-3 loss. Blanton was 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts against the Rockies last season, the only times he's ever faced Colorado in the regular season

Chacin allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits over six innings against the Padres last time out, getting a no-decision in a game San Diego would win by a score of 9-7. He had no decisions and a 1.29 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the Phillies last season and also pitched a scoreless inning in relief against them in 2009

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I was curious about this whole "Squeeze Week" business and how the Phillies fared during it. Checking out some past game logs, it looks like they've had these weeks since 2003, though they've come at different points in the season. Here's how they've done

July 21-27, 2003: 2-5 (0-2 vs. Mets, 2-0 at Cubs, 0-3 at Marlins)
July 19-25, 2004: 4-3 (1-1 at Braves, 1-1 vs. Marlins, 2-1 vs. Cubs)
April 18-24, 2005: 2-5 (1-1 vs. Mets, 1-1 vs. Rockies, 0-3 at Braves)
May 1-7, 2006: 7-0 (2-0 at Marlins, 2-0 vs. Braves, 3-0 vs. Giants)
April 16-22, 2007: 3-3* (0-1 vs. Mets, 1-1 at Nationals, 2-1 at Reds) *-April 16 vs. Mets was rained out
April 21-27, 2008: 5-2 (2-0 at Rockies, 1-1 at Brewers, 2-1 at Pirates)
May 4-10, 2009: 3-4 (2-0 at Cardinals, 0-2 at Mets, 1-2 vs. Braves)
May 17-23, 2010: 3-4 (1-1 vs. Pirates, 1-1 vs. Cubs, 1-2 vs. Red Sox)

[Jimmerz]

Can we finally get some runs for Cliff Lee?.. Please?

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http://www.thefightins.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/keepcalm.jpg

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Tony LaRussa back managing the Cardinals tonight after a bout with shingles

http://diamonddiariesdotnet.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/tony-la-russa-shingles.jpg?w=300&h=223

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6:00 local start time. Fly balls to right could be a bit of an adventure early in this one

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Underway in St. Louis

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Phils go down in order in the first. Time for Lee to go to work

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The feed on CSN is a little like this right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqlBBlgWRa4

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Theriot leads off with a single out of the reach of a diving Rollins

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Jay bunts Theriot up to second. Valdez had ideas of throwing to second, but took the sure out

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With one out, Pujols lines one to left that gives Ibanez some trouble but he does make the grab for the second out

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Holliday walks, first and second with two outs

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Berkman walks to load the bases

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Craig flies to Francisco to end the inning, Cardinals leave 'em loaded in the first

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Howard walks to start the second

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Mayberry chops into a 5-4 fielder's choice for the first out, then steals second on a very close play

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Looks like the Phillies got one there

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Phillies take advantage of the generous call as Francisco singles to score Mayberry with the game's first run

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Orr bounces into a 1-6 fielder's choice for the second out, then gets picked off first to retire the side. Phils get a run in the second to lead 1-0

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This is the first time Lee has taken the mound in an inning after the Phillies scored since April 14

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With one out in the second, Punto lines one back at Lee that hits him somewhere near the shoulder or chest, but Lee recovers and makes the play. He's fine

http://i.imgur.com/Fp7nG.gif

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Lee sets the Cardinals down in order in the second, Phils lead 1-0 after two

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With two outs in the third, Rollins ropes one to deep right-center that takes a high bounce off the warning track and over the wall for a ground rule double. Easily a triple if it stays in

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Valdez grounds one in the hole the other way, but Punto ranges over and makes the play to retire the side

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Theriot walks to start the third. An uncharacteristic three walks for Lee so far

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Theriot is erased as Jay bounces into a 6-4-3 double play

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Pujols taps to Rollins to end the inning, Phils lead 1-0 after three

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Westbrook works around a one-out walk to Howard in the fourth

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Bit of a tight strike zone from home plate ump Gerry Davis so far tonight

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Holliday walks to start the fourth. Lee walks back to the mound shaking his head and talking to himself after the 3-2 pitch appeared to cross the outside corner. In the top half of the inning, Howard walked on a 3-2 pitch that looked to be almost right down the middle

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Berkman walks and the Cardinals have their first two aboard. Most of those pitches weren't close in this instance

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CSN feed just went out, watching on ESPN at the moment

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Now CSN is back

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With one out, Molina taps one in the hole that Rollins cuts off but has no play on and the bases are loaded

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Punto singles to right, Holliday held up to make sure the ball wasn't caught but is able to score the tying run ahead of Francisco's throw. Had a shot at the force, but Francisco didn't get much on the throw

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With two outs, Theriot singles to right to score Berkman, Francisco's throw gets past everyone but Lee backs it up and gets Molina trying to score for the third out. Molina shaken up on the play, Cardinals take a 2-1 lead as we move on to the fifth

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Molina stays in

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Singles by Lee and Rollins give the Phillies a pair of two-out baserunners in the fifth

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Valdez grounds to third to end the inning

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Lee sets the Cardinals down in order in the fifth, Phils trail 2-1 heading to the sixth

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Howard walks with one out in the sixth, but he's erased when Mayberry chops into a 5-4-3 double play to retire the side

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Lee with another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth. On to the seventh with the Cardinals up, 2-1. Runs, please?

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Phils go down in order in the seventh

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Punto singles to start the seventh

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Lohse bats for Westbrook and bunts Punto up to second

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Theriot walks, first and second with one out. Sixth walk for Lee tonight, a career high. He'd walked seven batters all season entering tonight's game

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Jay singles to score Punto, 3-1. Mayberry made a strong throw home, but not in time to get Punto. That'll be the last batter Lee faces, Stutes will take over

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Pujols rolls into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Cardinals do get a run in the seventh to lead 3-1

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Sanchez now pitching for the Cardinals

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Gload bats for Stutes and singles to start the eighth

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Gload is erased as Rollins rolls into a 4-6-3 double play

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Polanco bats for Valdez and takes a CALLED strike three to retire the side. Promising start to the inning, but that's just how things are going right now

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Romero now pitching

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Romero hits Berkman with one out, with two outs Molina taps one in the hole under the glove of Rollins, who probably wasn't going to have a play anyway. First and second with two outs

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Punto flies to Mayberry to end the inning. Last chance for the Phils, down 3-1

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Salas now pitching for the Cardinals

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Ibanez goes down swinging, one away

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Howard gives one a ride to center, but Jay is there to make the catch just shy of the wall. Just going that way right now

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Mayberry flies to center to end it, Cardinals win 3-1. Phillies lose three straight for the first time this season. Oswalt comes off the DL tomorrow, Garcia will go for St. Louis

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During the ninth inning, T-Mac noted that Mark Fidrych recently celebrated the anniversary of his first career win. T-Mac failed to note that Fidrych died two years ago. In fact, he passed away on the same day as Harry Kalas

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/100535/cbrowngraem.gif

[Jimmerz]

bats are still on fire

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Just got in. Phillies got a single from Martinez in the first, Polanco got picked by a diving Descalso. Oswalt expected to throw about 60-65 pitches tonight

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Three up, three down for Oswalt in the first. Pujols called out on a 3-2 pitch that looked worse than a couple pitches that were called balls earlier in the at-bat

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That's Wally Bell behind the plate tonight

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Mayberry starts the second with a single

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T-Mac starting early on the overdramatic standings update

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Mayberry steals second

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Francisco pulling off on everything. Popping up a lot of good pitches. That's what happens when you jerk off the ball. He might want to let some of these guys jam him and if it comes it comes

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the second

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7vD5uAA55M

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Harmon Killebrew rumored to be the inspiration for the MLB logo

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llay048yut1qd6lg3o1_400.jpg

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With one out in the second, Berkman sends one back up the middle off Oswalt's bare hand, then the ball hits the second base bag and goes over the head of Rollins for a base hit. When you're going good, that ball sticks in Oswalt's hand

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Molina singles with two outs. Craig replaced Berkman on the bases after grounding into a6-4 fielder's choice and advances to second

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Wheels lectures Oswalt from the booth about letting that Berkman ball go through. Obviously he is not familiar with natural human reactions

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Descalso pops foul to Rollins to end the inning, scoreless after two

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Trivia answer for tonight is Sparky Anderson and Tony La Russa

[Jimmerz]

T-Mac starting early on the overdramatic standings update

EVERY step of the way

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Phils go down in order in the third

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PHL 17 is doing a feature on some guy who has eaten 25,000 Big Macs. Kinda hope they weren't sitting or standing too close to him when they conducted the interview

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Marlins and Mets rained out, T-Mac uses that as an opportunity to provide us with more overdramatic standings scenarios. May 17, dude

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/TonyRona/junk/wtmfg.jpg

[Jimmerz]

wow that rain cancelled games stat is crazy

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Singles by Theriot and Jay give the Cardinals runners at first and third with one out in the third

[Jimmerz]

quality 1st to 3rd there plantsy

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wow that rain cancelled games stat is crazy

Yeah, I've never seen anything like that before. Wonder what the record for a season is

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Oswalt gets out of trouble as Pujols grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Nice grab by Rollins in the hole and good pivot by Valdez, 0-0 heading to the fourth

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http://talksportsphilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Oswalt_smiles1.jpg

[Jimmerz]

Is Howard going to see a pitch to hit ever again? This lineup sucks.

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Phils go down in order in the fourth

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Is Howard going to see a pitch to hit ever again? This lineup sucks.

I think they need this guy to hit behind him:

http://mistertug.com/SargeSwagger.gif

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With one out in the fourth and Berkman on first, Craig hits one foul down the line in right that T-Mac says almost snuck inside the pole. If by almost snuck inside the pole you mean about 40-50 feet foul, then yes, he almost snuck it inside the pole

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/karnoval/la.gif

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Berkman walks, Craig singles, two on with one out

[Jimmerz]

where the hell was Sardines taking that throw? Enough with these bums on the roster!!

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Molina singles to left, Mayberry's throw home is up the line but beats Berkman, but Sardinha tries to swipe tag him instead of diving and Berkman is safe with the game's first run

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No further damage for the Cardinals in the fourth, but they do get a run in the inning to lead 1-0 as we go to the fifth

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Valdez doubles, Sardinha walks, Phillies have two on with one out in the fifth

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Oswalt bunts the runners over, but there are now two outs

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Oswalt is second among active pitchers in career sacrifices with 99. Good athlete

[Jimmerz]

Looks like he was trying to bunt there t-mac you ****ing idiot

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Rollins flies to center to retire the side

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Looks like he was trying to bunt there t-mac you ****ing idiot

T-Mac: "What do you think Rollins was going for there? The element of surprise?"

Sarge: "I have no clue"

Gotta love Sarge. Wheels would still be going on with some long-winded condescending lecture on when and when not to bunt

[Jimmerz]

I mean he turned to bunt. What kind of question is that?

I'll tell you what, when the offense sucks like it does now it makes these telecasts much harder to watch (listen).

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Francisco misplays a Pujols liner into a ground-rule double with two outs, but Holliday grounds to Valdez to end the inning. Probably the end of the night for Oswalt, who does a fine job in his return but finds himself on the short end of a 1-0 score after five

[Jimmerz]

They'll still pitch around Howard here

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Garcia works around a one-out single by Polanco in the sixth

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Maybe this get some bounce back in the offense's step:

http://www.daveandthomas.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tittys.gif

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Stutes now pitching

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Stutes hurt three pitches in. When it rains, it pours

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Stutes is going to leave with a back injury, Kendrick will take over

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http://www.ridethepine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/photo-1.jpg

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbNidYYGjic

[Jimmerz]

Maybe this get some bounce back in the offense's step:



damn it I can never get enough of that

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Berkman walks to start the sixth. That will be charged to Stutes, who left with a 3-0 count

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Berkman advances to second as Craig chops to Polanco for the first out. Berkman was running on the pitch, so no chance for a double play

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Molina grounds one up the middle off the glove of Kendrick, but this one bounces to Rollins, who throws to first for the second out

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Descalso will be walked intentionally with Garcia on deck

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Garcia is picked by a diving Polanco to end the inning. On to the seventh with the Cardinals up, 1-0

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/TonyRona/Misc/PolyPeanuts.gif

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Pitching once again giving the Phillies a chance...

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Phils go down in order in the seventh

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No hurt for Kendrick in the seventh after Pujols singles with two outs. Still 1-0 heading to the eighth

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Strained right oblique for Stutes. Generally is a DL injury

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With one out in the eighth, Rollins pops to second but Greene simply drops it. If ever they were going to take advantage...

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Martinez follows with a single, Rollins to third

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Polanco sends one to the gap in right-center that Jay tracks down for the second out but it's deep enough to score Rollins, 1-1

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Howard goes down swinging to retire the side, but the Phils do finally get on the board with an unearned run in the eighth, 1-1

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And yes, there were some boos to be heard in "Baseball Heaven" after the error and subsequent run

http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l482/miiiiaaaaa/gifs/tumblr_ldxqvuFLgI1qd9kbg.gif

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Bastardo now pitching. Ruiz batted for Kendrick and remains in to catch

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Berkman grounds one off the glove of Bastardo leading off the eighth, Bastardo recovers and takes his time making the throw, but does barely nip Berkman for the first out

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That's at least three grounders that have deflected off Phillies pitchers tonight. Waiting for Wheels to describe this game as "goofy"

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Greene again hears it from the crowd as he strikes out on three pitches for the second out. But remember, only fans in Philly boo players on the home team

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Molina one-hops the wall on an 0-2 pitch for a two-out double. Fastball that just stayed out over the middle

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Descalso walks, first and second with two outs

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Punto bats for Garcia and goes down swinging to end the inning. We go to the ninth, 1-1

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Salas now pitching for the Cardinals

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Garcia does not allow an earned run over eight innings but will get a no-decision tonight

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Wheels tells us how the Phillies are awful in Interleague every year, as last year's 10-8 record suggests I suppose

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Phils go down in order in the ninth

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Baez now pitching

Our Father, who art in heaven...

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Theriot singles to start the ninth

...hallowed be thy name...

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Jay swings away and singles, Theriot to second

...thy kingdom come, thy will be done...

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Pujols gets jammed but serves one into right out of Orr's reach for a single, bases loaded with no outs

...on Earth as it is in heaven...

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Holliday grounds into a 6-2 fielder's choice for the first out. Ball took a hop on Rollins, but he stayed with it and made the play. That'll be the last batter Baez faces, Romero will take over

...give us this day our daily bread...

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Berkman lines Romero's first pitch over the head of a drawn-in Martinez in center, Jay scores to give the Cardinals a 2-1 win and sweep of this two-game series. Phillies drop their fourth straight. Baez will get the loss. Hamels vs. De La Rosa and the Rockies back home tomorrow

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Thinking we're not going to see a whole hell a lot more of Baez at this rate. Hopefully the Stutes injury isn't serious

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Underway against the Rockies

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Light rain at the start of this one

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Amezaga walks with one out and tries to go to third when Gonzalez singles, but Mayberry guns him down. Good throw and nice tag by Polanco

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/TonyRona/Misc/Mayberry.gif

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Tulowitzki flies to Martinez to retire the side. Time to see if the offense can start turning things around

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Phils go down in order in the first

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Lopez singles with one out in the second, Spilborghs replaces him on the bases on a 6-4 fielder's choice, then Ruiz guns down Spilborghs trying to steal second to retire the side

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Motion_Blur/ChoocHappy.gif

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Howard hits one down the line at first leading off the second, stopped by a sliding Helton. First base ump Ed Rapuano started calling it foul, then switched to fair, Howard out at first

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Phils go down in order in the second, scoreless heading to the third

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Hamels sets the Rockies down in order in the third

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Ruiz singles to start the third

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Phillies play some hit-and-run, but Valdez grounds it right where Amezaga was covering. Fortunately, Amezaga didn't handle it cleanly and was only able to get Valdez for the first out

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the third, 0-0 heading to the fourth

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"Did you just snow on me?"

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Hamels with another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth

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Phils go down in order in the fourth. On to the fifth, 0-0

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Hamels sets the Rockies down in order again in the fifth

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Ibanez singles with one out in the fifth, then Ruiz is hit in the foot with a 1-2 pitch

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Runners advance to second and third on a passed ball on Iannetta

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Valdez singles past a diving Lopez to score Ibanez with the game's first run, Ruiz holds at third

[Jimmerz]

what just happened?

[Jimmerz]

looks like one of our players stepped on the plate, please confirm

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Hamels swings away and grounds into a 6-3 double play to end the inning. Phils get on the board with an unearned run to lead 1-0 after five

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looks like one of our players stepped on the plate, please confirm

As Harry might say, the run was unearned but so what?

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Three up, three down for Hamels in the sixth

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Hamels has had the Rockies in his back pocket the last few innings

http://www.thefightins.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ColeHamels.JPG

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Rollins starts the sixth with a single. That was a little weird. J-Roll looked a little disgusted with himself out of the box, but Gonzalez was nowhere near it in left

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Martinez bunts Rollins up to second. De La Rosa muffed the ball a little, but recovered in time to nip Martinez for the first out

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Polanco bloops one to right, but Spilborghs is able to make a sliding catch for the second out

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Spilborghs may have trapped that one. Throw the flag, Andy!

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Rollins steals third without a throw

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Howard flies just shy of the track in left to end the inning. On to the seventh with the Phils up 1-0

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Rockies get their first baserunner since the second inning as Gonzalez doubles off the top of the wall in left-center with one out in the seventh

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Tulowitzki is picked by a diving Polanco for the second out

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Helton ties it with a double to score Gonzalez, 1-1

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Lopez flies to Martinez to retire the side, but the Rockies get a run in the seventh to tie it, 1-1

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Wheels just absolutely ruins the Ubaldo Jimenez license plate commercial with needless commentary

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Phils go down in order in the seventh, 1-1 heading to the eighth

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Spilborghs grounds one into the hole leading off the eighth, Rollins makes the grab but Howard can't pick the throw. That'll be an infield single

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Iannetta hits one on the nose, but right at Ibanez for the first out

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De La Rosa stays in and bunts Spilborghs up to second

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Fowler goes down swinging to retire the side. That should be the end of the night for Hamels, another strong start

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Valdez singles to start the eighth

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Victorino bats for Hamels and bunts Valdez up to second

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Valdez advances to third on a wild pitch

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Rollins lines to right, but it's deep enough for Valdez to tag and score, Phillies take a 2-1 lead

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Rockies appeal at third, but Valdez didn't leave early

[Jimmerz]

Nice running by Valdez

[Jimmerz]

Rockies appeal at third, but Valdez didn't leave early

Don't think I've ever seen an appeal in MLB get overturned.

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Martinez grounds to short to end the inning, but the Phils get a run in the eighth to lead 2-1 as we go to the ninth. Madson time

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Don't think I've ever seen an appeal in MLB get overturned.

Happens about as often as a catcher's balk

Wait, what?

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Smith bats for Amezaga and doubles down the line in right leading off the ninth. Not good with the meat of the Rockies order coming up

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Gonzalez goes down swinging, one away

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Tuolwitzki goes down swinging for the second out

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Madson pitches around Helton and will walk him intentionally after falling behind 3-0

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BALLGAME! Giambi bats for Lopez and goes down swinging to end it. The four-game losing streak is over as the Phillies win it, 2-1. Hamels gets the win, striking out eight while allowing a run on six hits over eight innings. Madson allowed a leadoff double in the ninth, but struck out Gonzalez, Tulowitzki, and Giambi (with an intentional walk to Helton mixed in) for the save. Runs on a Valdez RBI single in the fifth and Rollins sac fly in the eighth. Blanton vs. Chacin tomorrow as the Phils go for the mini-series sweep

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Um, interesting pose by Madson after getting the final out:

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/images/2011/05/19/N4WlHmal.jpg

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That, of course, is not to be confused with this:

http://www.gifsoup.com/view5/2427640/homophobic-bat-o.gif

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Just got in. It's been the Jason Giambi Show at Citizens Bank Park tonight, as Giambi has three homers and seven RBI to give the Rockies a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Blanton was a last-minute scratch, replaced by Kendrick, who allowed two of Giambi's homers and five RBI in three innings. Giambi's third homer came off Baez. Phillies got their run on an RBI double by Ibanez in the fourth

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No hurt for Chacin in the fifth after Rollins walks with two outs, Rockies lead 7-1 heading to the sixth. Mathieson will work the sixth for the Phils, his first appearance in 11 days

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Herrera singles, Spilborghs is hit on the elbow with a pitch, Rockies have two on with one out in the sixth

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Nothing else happening for the Rockies in the sixth. Giambi doesn't hit a fourth homer, instead he takes a CALLED strike three to retire the side

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Polanco called out on an absolutely brutal checkswing call to start the sixth. That's Brian O'Nora at first

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Phils go down in order in the sixth. On to the seventh with the Rockies up 7-1

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Smith singles to start the seventh and is gunned down by Gload as he tries to stretch it into a double

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Replay shows the Phillies got a call there, which doesn't really seem like much consolation at the moment

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Mathieson works around a one-out infield single by Lopez in the seventh

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Ibanez singles to start the seventh. Can't start a fire without a spark

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the seventh, Rockies lead 7-1 heading to the eighth

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Stutes now pitching

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Stutes works around a one-out infield single by Fowler in the eighth

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Lindstrom now pitching for the Rockies

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No hurt for Lindstrom in the eighth after Polanco singles with two outs. We go to the ninth, Phils trail 7-1

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Romero now pitching

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No four-homer game for Giambi, he goes down swinging to start the ninth

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No hurt for Romero in the ninth after Lopez doubles with two outs. Last chance for the Phillies, down 7-1

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Paulino now pitching for Colorado

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Gload starts the comeback (?) with a single leading off the ninth

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Ibanez flies to center, one away

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Ruiz grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end it, Rockies win 7-1. Giambi accounts for all the Colorado scoring with three homers. Phillies and Rockies split the two-game series, Rangers come to town for a weekend Interleague set tomorrow