A query for Davey Lopes, #15, first base coach, and base-stealing guru to the Phillies.Just when I thought the running game, so much a part of the Phillies' success in past years, had totally disappeared, it came through in last night's 3-2 win over the Marlins. Kyle Kendrick was just good enough, if irritatingly slow to put guys away, for six innings. I was listening on the radio and could imagine how the defenders were shuffling their feet, while Kendrick waffled. But he ended up giving up just two unearned runs, which scored in the third on his own throwing error to first.
The Phillies finally got on the board this week, in the fourth, when Howard singled and Ibanez tripled him home. With no outs, though, Ibanez was then stranded on third.
In the fifth, Utley walked and stole second, for only his second stolen base of the year. Howard then singled him in to tie the game at two. More steals led to the go-ahead run in the seventh, with Victorino and Valdez on base. Vic stole third and Valdez alertly followed. Utley then grounded out to bring in Victorino. Utley had a productive 0-3 night, with a run scored, an RBI, and a steal; he also made a fine defensive play. The bullpen made the 3-2 score hold up, not without some dramatics in the ninth.
It all took only a week. Whew!
