Brad Lidge of 2008 started the 9th inning but then the ghost of 2009 showed up. Lidge let up a tying 3 run blast to Joey Votto that put the game into extra innings. The Phillies were in control of this game until that point with Country Joe Blanton starting to get back to form. Fat Joe pitched 7 2/3 innings only allowing 3 earned runs on 8 hits. Jose Contreras came in and got the final out for the 8th inning and the Phils had a 3 run lead going into the 9th. Lidge got the first 2 outs then walked Brandon Phillips and let up a single to Orlando Cabrera, then Votto did his damage only before Lidge got the 3rd out in 9th.
Earlier in the game 2 bench players filling in for the injury plagued Phils stepped up offensively and each belted 3 run homers. Brian Schneider hit one in the 2nd to take a 3-1 lead with Howard & Werth on base. Wilson Valdez who started at 2nd for the first time this season, although it seems like he has been in the starting line-up most of the season somewhere in the infield, hit a 3 run shot in the 4th for the Phils to increase the lead to 6-1. Then the Reds crawled back with some help from Brad Lidge.
Heading into the 10th inning was Arthur Rhodes who had 33 straight scoreless appearances for the Reds this season which is a major league season record. Ryan Howard started the inning off with a lead off double and Jayson Werth walked next. Then Raul Ibanez doubled off the glove of Drew Stubbs who juggled the ball off the centerfield wall and Howard scored to take the lead. A few more runs were knocked in and the Phils had a 9-6 lead with JC Romero closing out the game for his 3rd save in 4 tries.
Charlie Manuel was ejected in the last inning for arguing balls & strikes with home plate ump C.B. Bucknor. Bucknor looked to be calling very low strikes and Manuel was pissed that he wasn't calling it for both sides. Manuel let him have it and it may have appeared that his hat bumped Bucknor.
Tonight Roy Halladay takes on Aaron Harang in the rubber match.
Phillies called up Greg Dobbs and infielder Brian Bocock from Triple A for the game.
The Phillies are 2.5 games behind the Braves in the NL East.
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