After giving up a 2-run homer to Ray Durham in the 1st, Joe Blanton pretty much settled down and went seven. He allowed a solo homer in the 4th to Mike Cameron but kept his team in the game. The Phillies tied it at 3 on a 2-run homer by Ryan Howard in the 6th, then took the lead for good in the 8th, a bizarre inning all round. Everything worked for Charlie Manuel; nothing for Ned Yost, the Brewers' manager. Werth led off the bottom with a single, then Chase Utley sacrificed him over. Surprise! (Blanton later called it a big play.) Yost then elected to walk Ryan Howard, but kept his lefty on the mound to pitch to Pat Burrell, who singled. Werth scored on some gutsy baserunning to make it 4-3. With two on, Shane Victorino then golfed a ball into the left field stands to put the Phils up 7-3, the final score. So two guys who have been struggling came up with the big late-inning hits. Despite his effective (love the word) outing, Blanton did not get the win. That went to Scott Eyre, who is now 4-0 since being picked up after the trade deadline.
Derek Jeter today tied Lou Gehrig for the most hits at Yankee Stadium. That's a goosebumps kind of record for sure.
I've got tix for the second game of the doubleheader (at 7:30) but am stuck here this evening, slaving over a hot keyboard.
