Ryan Howard drove a Kyle Farnsworth fastball back up the middle to score Jimmy Rollins to put the Phillies ahead 5-4 in the ninth inning. Jonathan Papelbon came in to earn his 11th save in his last 11 chances, lowering his ERA to 1.76, and wrapping up a Phils 5-4 victory.
Hit Parade from the Heart of the Line-Up
The heart of the Phillies’ line-up made it feel like 2007 all over again: Rollins, Chase Utley, and Howard combined to go 9-12 with 4 runs and 4 RBI. Rollins had 3 hits and 4 runs scored, pulling him to within 25 of Mike Schmidt for the all-time franchise lead. Howard had his second four-hit game of the year, going 4-5 with an RBI.
Bullpen Hangs On
Kyle Kendrick pitched a pedestrian 5 and 1/3 innings, giving up four earned, before Jake Diekman came in the sixth. Diekman pitched one and 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out two. Diekman now has 31 Ks in 19 IP, good for a 14.68 K/9 IP. Diekman’s 9/IP mark ranks third in the NL and his xFIP of 1.80 ranks fifth.
Mike Adams got in trouble early in the eighth, allowing the first two hitters to single. Adams got a pair of outs, including a bizarre strikeout on Eric Campbell that started as an intentional walk, before walking the bases loaded. Adams got Bobby Abreu to ground out with the bases loaded to end the threat. Papelon would come in in the ninth to earn his 11th save.
The Phils look for the sweep tomorrow as Cole Hamels looks for revenge against LHP Jon Niese.
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