Rox Even Up Series

Written by: Josh Landsburg on 9th October 2009

Rox Even Up Series | read this item

After looking completely overmatched in game one by Cliff Lee, the Rockies hitters came back in a big way against Cole Hamels in game two. The Rockies played “small ball” in the first inning to make it 1-0, and then they showed their power in the fourth inning when their catcher Yorvit Torrealba crushed a pitch by Hamels to left field for a two-run homerun to make it 3-0. While Hamels didn’t have his best stuff, giving up four runs on seven hits in just five innings of work, the Phillies offense did not wake up until the 6th inning. Sinker-baller Aaron Cook kept the offense off-balance most of the game. The offense finally got to him in the 6th inning though. The Phillies scored three runs on five hits in the sixth to make it a 4-3 ballgame. An RBI double by Howard and a two run scoring single by Ibanez highlighted the sixth.

Unfortunately for the Phils, the Rockies came right back in the top of the 7th inning with a run of their own to make it a 5-3 ballgame. Also, some bad news for the Phils came in the 7th when J.A. Haap got hit in the knee by a ball hit by Seth Smith, and Haap had to leave the game. Now, as a result of both Joe Blanton and J.A. Haap being used in the game, Charlie Manuel is forced to use Pedro Martinez to start game three tomorrow night. Meanwhile, in the game yesterday, the Phils rallied, including a Jayson Werth solo homerun in the 8th to make it 5-4, but that was as close as they got. Brad Lidge was warming up in the bottom of the ninth inning in case the Phils tied it at five and it went extra innings. Also, Cole Hamels left the game early because his wife went into labor…do you think that maybe had something to do with how he pitched? I wonder. Now, I’m not trying to make excuses for Cole or anything, but he is a big game pitcher, which he proved last postseason, and I think having his first kid and knowing that his wife could go into labor at anytime was weighing on his conscious during the game. We’ll see if the Phils can take game three tomorrow night in Colorado where the weather will not be too friendly.

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Topics: Bad News, Baller, Big Game, brad lidge, Charlie Manuel, Cole Hamels, Extra Innings, First Kid, Game One, Haap, Homerun, Jayson Werth, joe blanton, Ninth Inning, Pedro Martinez, Phillies, Rockies, Seth Smith, Tomorrow Night, Yorvit Torrealba

hometeamgal says:

October 12, 2009 at 11:17 pm

Definitely…baby thoughts threw off Hamels’ focus. After resting at home for the last days, Hamels should be rejuvenated and ready to “dodge those Dodgers” on Thursday night to start the National League Championship Series!!