The Phils went to Wrigley this week needing to get back on track and keep ahead of the now surging Florida Marlins. It wouldn't be an easy task with Cubs ace Rich Harden on the mound last night and especially with the sudden offense-less Phillies struggling with runners in scoring position. Harden had a no hitter going into the 6th inning and was holding a 2-0 lead over J.A Happ, who didn't pitch great but didn't pitch bad either. Chooch got on base with a walk and up stepped the captain of the defending world champs Jimmy Rollins. Rollins ripped one through the wind and into the seats in right field to tie the game at 2. With the no-no, no more and the game tied at 2, things were looking better for the WFC. Carlos Marmol helped the Phils out in the 8th by walking Ruiz, hitting Victorino with a pitch, then walking Utley and Howard to give the Phils a 3-2 lead. Why did Piniella keep Marmol in? I don't know, and I don't care. With the lead now, the Phils went to the bullpen to help close things out. Chan Ho Park has been excellent since being in the pen and struck out 2(should have been 3, the umps strike zone was non existent last night) to close the 7th. Madson came in and struck out 2 in the 8th to shut the Cubs down again. Now into the bottom of the 9th and in comes Brad Lidge. I almost wanted to change the channel and not watch hoping that when I flipped back to the game it would be the post game show talking about the Phils win, but no... I like the rest of Phillies nation watched in fear as our closer came into the game. Lidge decides that in order to snap a losing streak you must blow the save in an opposing teams ballpark and go extra innings. Lidge now has an era of 7.29 and whenever I see him on the mound now he just doesn't look right. Where is that look, the look that says I am gonna stike you out and make you look stupid stare? He doesn't have it right now. He hasn't had it since last October. This is worrying me more then the 5th starter mix up, the quiet bats the past week, or the Florida Marlins. Is this guy gonna blow it in the playoffs for us this year? Time will tell and Uncle Charlie will have to decide what to do. The rest of the bullpen after Lidge did a good job with Tyler Walker, Scott Eyre, and Chad Durbin closing it out for the save. But the hero of the night was newly aquired OF Ben Francisco. Francisco was the "extra piece" in the Cliff Lee trade and has helped out more then anyone has expected wearing the red pinstripes. In the 12th Francisco hit a 1-1 pitch into the basket that hangs over the left field wall to pull the Phils ahead 4-3. "Playing winning baseball this late in the season, that's what we all play for," said Francisco, who had been toiling for AL also-ran Cleveland before coming to Philadelphia on July 29. The Phillies are glad to have him as we head to the last few weeks of the season.
Up next for the Phillies is the much anticipated start for Pedro Martinez against Jeff Samardzija(1-1). I wonder why the game is on ESPN tonight??? I know I am not missing this start.
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