Categories: 2009 RecapsPosts

Wow! Huge Comeback Salvages Series

It’s as if someone splashed a gallon of hot water on the Phillies during the seventh-inning stretch. Or that same person splashed frigid water on the Braves bullpen. Whatever the case, the Phillies collected their first win with a huge 12-11 comeback over the Braves. They are now 1-2.

The seventh seemed eerily familiar to the Phils comeback in game No. 3 of the 2008 season. a couple base hits (including RBI singles by Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz) set up some bad pitching (consecutive walks to Matt Stairs, Chris Coste and Jimmy Rollins). Shane Victorino singled home another run, Chase Utley walked home another, then Ryan Howard grabbed the lead with a ground out.

It all saved a bad performance by Joe Blanton (4 IP, 7 ER, 9 H) and let all fans breathe out for a day: Finally, the Phils showed some offense.

Ibanez had the most of it, homering in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2. The Braves then ran out with the big lead, thanks to a five-run third. JA Happ surrendered a two-run home run to Jordan Schafer. Chad Durbin let in a run on three walks and a hit, Clay Condrey got out of it with a strikeout (and grabbed the win), Ryan Madson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. Brad Lidge recorded his first save of the year in his first chance, despite allowing a solo home run to Matt Diaz.

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.