Categories: 2009 RecapsPosts

Stairs’ Homer Salvages Sorry Performance

The Phillies were about to be no-hit for the first time since 1978, but Matt Stairs came to the plate, then drew a 3-1 count. You know what happens when Stairs draws a 3-1 count.

The pudgy man’s eighth-inning pinch-hit home run broke up Dave Bush’s no-hit bid, giving the Phillies their line run in a 6-1 loss to the Brewers.

The Phillies collected one more hit in the game, a single by Shane Victorino in that same eighth inning. Otherwise, it was a anemic showing by the Phils offense, as hitters weakly grounded balls, popped out and looked downright lost. A low-ball pitcher, Bush capitalized off an offense that looked very one-dimensional – not unusual against these kinds of pitchers.

Bush’s near no-no usurped the bigger story, which was Cole Hamels being plunked in the left shoulder by a Prince Fielder line drive in the fourth inning. Though he left the game, reports are he’ll be okay. Official word will be relayed. The injury came after a more promising effort from the lefty. After striking out five of the first six outs recorded, Hamels allowed a two-run home run to Ryan Braun, who has handily beaten Phillies pitching throughout the series.

After Hamels exited, JA Happ surrendered a bases-clearing double from Fielder. He finished giving up three runs on three hits and three walks in 1.2 innings.

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Tim Malcolm

Tim 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.

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