A statue from the All-Star game in Anaheim greets shoppers at the Majestic Clubhouse shop at Citizens Bank Park. It was an ugly game to listen to, with sketchy pitching and worse defense but in the end the Phillies prevailed in a crazy back-and-forth affair with the Marlins to win 8-7. With the win and the Braves' loss in Pittsburgh, they also took first place in the NL East for the first time in 100 days. That's first by half a game but it is still first. At 80-60, they suddenly have the best record in the National League. My, how things change.
Joe Blanton gave up four runs but only two were earned. The Fish had seven runs, three of them unearned. The Fish tied the game in the eighth on a wild pitch by Ryan Madson but the Phillies then went ahead on an RBI single by Placido Polanco after Shane Victorino ,with two out, reached base on a bloop. Victorino then stole second, for his 30th steal of the year.
Victorino also homered in the game, as did Ibanez and Howard, all solo shots. But the Phillies played the Fish brand of sloppy ball last night, perhaps understandable for a team that today will play its 24th game in 23 days. In the end, Ryan Madson blew the save in the eighth and got the win in the ninth.
Brad Lidge was unavailable because of a tender elbow. Uh-oh. Domonic Brown was a scratch just before game time with a quad problem, something he had in the Futures Game as well. Brown and Scott Mathieson were announced as this year's Paul Owens award recipients for, respectively, postiion player and pitcher. Shane Victorino was picked to be the Phillies' candidate for this year's Roberto Clemente award.
