Hidden beneath the late big plays and the home runs of last night’s win was the bullpen’s marvelous work. Yes, yes, they let up three runs, but on only one hit. Two runs came via groundouts, another via speed and an errant throw.
Here’s the line:
Chad Durbin – 0.1 IP, BB
Scott Eyre – 0.1 IP, K
Ryan Madson – 0.2 IP, H, ER, K
JC Romero – 1.1 IP, K
Romero was especially clutch, getting the final out of the eighth on one pitch, then breezing through the ninth and setting up the win. For the first time in a while, Madson didn’t quite have his stuff, and paid for it via BJ Upton’s legs. But still, the guys held down the fort in the face of small ball.
They’ll prove important once again tonight. Joe Blanton has pitched into the seventh just once since Aug. 9. Chances are the Phils will need the bullpen for at least three frames tonight, meaning the Durbin-Eyre combination will once again have to pitch big. Right now, I’m confident about that.
Tim MalcolmTim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.
