Roy Oswalt long tosses before the game.
The rally towels never get old. This was in the 9th. Roy Oswalt pitched like his old self last night--and ran his career record at Citizens Bank Park to 10-0. He held the Giants to one run on three hits, that one run (and first hit) coming in the 5th on another homer by Cody Ross, who continues to torment the Phillies no matter what uni he wears. Oswalt gave him a bowtie but later sweetened it with a cookie.
Torment also describes what Oswalt did all night to Giant lead-off hitter Andres Torres, who struck out swinging in his four at bats. The last one was on a slow curve that came out of nowhere and could have driven Torres around the bend. Oswalt K'd nine on the night and went a strong eight innings.
The Phillies scored first, getting an unearned run in the 1st, when they loaded the bases on two wallks and an error. Jimmy Rollins then drew the third walk of the inning to force in the run. Starter Jonathan Sanchez, dominant for the Giants down the stretch, was not so much last night. He threw 35 pitches in the 1st inning and left in the 7th with 100 pitches.
After Ross tied the game in the top of the 5th, the Phillies immediate responded with a go-ahead run. Victorino led off with a double, Utley, who batted second last night, sacrificed him over, and Polanco sacrificed him in. But the 7th was the big inning. Oswalt, who in the 4th had a fabulous nine- or ten-pitch at bat against Sanchez and got the crowd really going, led off with a single,which drove Sanchez from the game. Victorino then bunted Oswalt to 2nd. After Utley was walked, Polanco hit the single that, unbelievably, scored RoyO. Another intentional walk to Werth loaded the bases. Jimmy Rollins then ripped a bases-clearing double to right center. He was serenaded with chants of J-Roll for minutes on end.
A stellar pitching performance was augmented by some offensive glimmers. Ryan Howard, against the tough lefty Sanchez, had a walk, a double, and a single. If they get it going, they will be, as Sarge says, "impossible". But will they get it going in San Francisco, not a place where the Phillies have thrived?
