The Phillies won their second straight game on Tuesday night, taking down the Pirates 5-4. The team jumped out to an early lead once again, scoring four runs in the first three innings, and added an insurance run in the eighth inning that proved to be the difference in the game. They remain eight games out of first place in the National League East.
- Vance Worley gave the Phils a decent start, allowing three runs over six innings. The young hurler’s high pitch count prevented him from going any deeper into the game.
- Worley pitched out of an early jam in the first inning. He hit Jose Tabata with a pitch, and walked Neil Walker to start the frame, but was able to get the next three outs to avoid any damage. He allowed two doubles on the night, but never gave the Pirates a big inning.
- The offense came up with a couple of big hits with runners in scoring position. Carlos Ruiz picked up an RBI single in the first inning to score Hunter Pence from third with two outs. Then in the second inning, Placido Polanco drove in Mike Fontenot from second.
- Ruiz finished with another multi-hit game, going 3-5 and raising his batting average to .361.
- Ty Wigginton gave the team a productive start, going 2-4 with a two-run home run in the third inning.
- Mike Fontenot got another start at second base, and went 1-3. It will be interesting to see who the Phillies decide to send down when Chase Utley is activated tomorrow.
- Michael Schwimer was asked to pitch the seventh inning, and earned his first hold of the season. That’s right, he has just one hold in 16 innings of work this season.
- Antonio Bastardo threw a scoreless eighth inning. The Phillies badly need him to become a stable presence again.
- Jonathan Papelbon earned his 18th save of the season, but did allow a run to score, giving up a solo shot.
- Jimmy Rollins went hitless for just the third time in his last 10 games.
