Comeback! Phils Score Four In Ninth To Win
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Tue, April 15, 2008 10:00 PM | Comments: 28
Posts
Yeah, baby!
In about 15 minutes, the Phillies went from cold to hot, as they tagged Astros’ closer Jose Valverde for four runs in a huge comeback win, 4-3.
Chris Snelling led off the ninth with his first home run, a drive into the third row of the right field stands. Chase Utley promptly got hit by a pitch (looks like he probably laid into it — anything to win), but Ryan Howard quieted the crowd for a moment with a strikeout. Then, just as he’s been doing for the past nine months, Pat Burrell came up big, taking a Valverde pitch to the opposite field for his fifth homer of the year, the game-tying blow.
Geoff Jenkins followed with a battling at bat that led to a strikeout, but a passed ball put the slugger on base. Pedro Feliz followed with a line drive down the left field line; Jenkins was going hard all the way, and he won the play at the plate for the win (was he safe?).
The Phils had no business winning this one, not after looking foolish against starter Shawn Chacon, who painted and hit his spots all night. Adam Eaton kept the Phils in the game with a 6 IP, 3 ER performance, gutting it out against a tough Astros lineup. The game was boring up until the very end — then the Phils broke out the sticks. That, along with the Flyers big home win in game three of the NHL playoffs, makes for an awesome night in South Philadelphia.
Associated Press photo
Posts: 0 Geoff
Yes! Pat Burrell is on fire. What are the odds of that? Valverde is way too good to get smoked by three rips in one inning. I didnt know Jenkins had that type of speed either. A little perturbed that they got sat down by shawn chacon (What?) but they made up for it i suppose. Another solid performance by adam eaton. Hes been consistent in each start thus far. Im still surprised by that. Very big start for Kendrick tomorrow night.
Posted: 11:10 PM on April 15, 2008
Posts: 0 Mark
The Phils may have had no business winning this one after being blanked by Chacon all night, but it’s games like this that the great teams, the diivision and pennant winners win — it seperates the men from the boys.
Posted: 03:59 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Kyle
Great win for the phils, LMAO look at Jenkin’s face in that picture you provided above, he looks like a retard lmao
Posted: 06:37 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Gnomicide
Hopefully these late inning antics continue, as they mirror the end of last season. I am liking Geoff Jenkins a lot more than I thought I would. I thought his personality wouldn’t fit on this squad, but he seems pretty into it and ready to go all the time. With Werth and Jenkins every night, the only thing I really miss of Vic is the D.
Posted: 06:52 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike T
Having average defense in the outfield is the least of our worries – and trust me, we have some worries.
Posted: 07:18 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 MS
trade howard, sign burrell
Posted: 08:26 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 OZ
bet the Astros were wishing they had Lidge after last night.
Posted: 09:24 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 OZ
anyone else notice that CN8 wasn’t showing the at the plate play that won the game? I DVR’d it – it was reallllly close.
anyone else take a good look?
Posted: 09:26 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Victorino should have to hit his way back into the everyday lineup. After all, diving catches aside, i can go get somebody from AA (Golson) that can run faster and hit for .205 or whatever vic is hitting. Im still nervous about kendrick not having a curveball and moyer being totally dependent on the umpires; strike zone. I would like Kendrick to go to AAA and reinvent himself a little, maybe improve a changeup and learn a curve, which would be tough to do in season but well see how he does tonight. I just cant watch moyer anymore out there, its too shaky. If they want to win a championship they will have to replace him in the rotation. Period. When he doesnt get the calls hes one of the most ineffective pitchers in all of baseball.
Posted: 09:32 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
and re-sign burrell please
Posted: 09:33 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
OZ: Baseball Tonight originally didn’t show it either; they showed it during the full game recap and Kruk and Schowalter wondered how close the play was.
I went back on MLB.tv to see the replay and slowed it down: To me, he got his foot on a split second before Ausmus put his glove on him.
Posted: 09:36 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 MS
i actually watched the houston broadcast of the game (on the mlb package). he was safe. they played the replay a few times, even the houston announcers thought he was safe.
Posted: 09:39 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Fran
haha im going to keep on saying it PAT THE BAT FOR MVP
Posted: 10:06 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike W.
He was safe – easiest way to know this was that absolutely no Astros argued, not even the Catcher.
Victorinio was starting to hit the ball before he got hurt. He raised his average from aabout 170 to 240 in 4 or 5 games before the injury.
I’m of the opininon that Kendrick is probably a AA pitcher. People say he is the new Marty Bystrom, but I liken him more to Stocker. Stocker came up midseason and got more dinky crap hits than anyone I’ve ever seen, on his way to hitting like 326. Kendrick had everything bounce his way last year.
On the plus side, we might have a viable fill in on the major league roster already with Chad Durbin.
Posted: 10:26 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
Mike W, nobody seems to be talking about how well Chad Durbin is throwing right now. He is taking the ball all the time, and performing very well in a variety of bullpen spots.
Posted: 10:35 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Chad Durbin seems like he could fill in for a few starts and do a good job for the most part by maybe holdint the opposing team to 3-4 runs. The pitching coach shouldve spend the time with Kendrick in the offseason and helping develop an out pitch. I still think they need another back of the rotation start to provide depth AND ultimately acquire someone to be a LEGIT number 3 starter and get moyer out of there.
Posted: 10:58 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 chris m
get rid of howard.he sucks
Posted: 11:02 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Id take durbin over moyer with the way durbin has been throwing LATELY. everyone may disagree but moyer will give you a good game every once in a while where he only lets up one or two runs bbut most of the time you can expect the other team to hang 5 on him before he gets taken out of the game. most of the time he gets pulled after giving up 5 runs, its usually before the 5th inning.
Posted: 11:02 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
however durbin isnt a legit nhumber 3, we all know that. im just saying i dont need to see jamie moyer out there anymore
Posted: 11:03 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
Houston may have temporarily missed Lidge last night but their closer, Valverde is no slouch, having led the league in “saves” last year with 47. I’m sure they’re happy to have Bourn in their line-up. He leads the league in stolen bases (7) including one in last night’s game. I think he will only get better playing regularly and getting experience.
Posted: 11:12 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Bourn is going to be a good player for sure. BUt Im happy with Lidge so far so I cant complain too much. The last game I was at (saturday), before howard hit his home run he was just taking terrible hacks and rips at garbage ptiches. It was embarrassing, and finally he connects with one and out it goes. If he doesnt watch it hell because a total, compelte HR or Fly/Strikeout hitter. nothing in between. he almost is that now but he may even get worse at that.
Posted: 11:18 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
BTW, I don’t if anyone here mentioned it but I read that Jenkins ran through a “STOP” sign by a frantically waving 3rd base coach (Smith). :-)
He must have thought he was Michael Bourn for a moment. I’m sure glad he made it home safely. :-)
Posted: 11:38 AM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Sean P.
I heard that too, then the explanation was that Smith was waving his arm to go, then put the stop sign up but Jenkins didn’t see him. Smith actually has a quote jabbing Jenkins for missing the sign! Which i thought was unbelievable considering how bad the third base coach has fared for Philly.
Here’s the quote from Phillies.com
Initially waving Jenkins around, Smith changed that after he saw Lee cleanly field the ball and throw a strike to Tejada.
When did Smith see that he missed the sign?
“When he went by me,” Smith said. “I guess at [USC], where he went to school, they didn’t teach to look twice. He never saw me. The next time on a close play, I’ll let him make the call.”
Posted: 12:47 PM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Oh, good work, Steve. Geez.
Honestly, it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to stop Jenkins there. There was one out and the winning run on third.
However, Bruntlett was next and could’ve roped a double play ball to end the inning. And it does make sense to try and win as soon as possible with Valverde throwing such crud up there and the crowd really hot at that point.
Posted: 12:54 PM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 ped
i feel bad for adam eaton. I wish the phils could get him a win. He’s been a second best starter
Posted: 01:11 PM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 chris m
hey tim maybe you could look this up but i think we had valverdes number last year as well from what i remember with arizona. i think we had a couple comebacks come up short and we mite have won one. but i think we did well agianst him. whenever i see valverde make saves,its never easy. i dont think hes that good.
Posted: 01:30 PM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Valverde has a 7.84 ERA against the Phils, highest of all NL teams. Last year he saved two games and almost blew one (he gave up three earned), but Brandon Lyon came in and got the final out.
Posted: 01:39 PM on April 16, 2008
Posts: 0 Bats Go Silent Against Backe, Phils Lose | Phillies Nation
[...] Backe, leaving 16 men on base in a 4-3 loss to the Astros. The game seemed oddly close to the April 15 win against the Astros, where the Phils staged a huge comeback off Houston closer Jose Valverde to win [...]
Posted: 11:00 AM on May 24, 2008