The Phillies finished off a sweep of the Rockies yesterday afternoon, a good way to go into San Francisco for a four-game set. On Monday, Cole Hamels looked again to be a hard-luck loser, going seven innings and giving up two runs. Michael Stutes came on in the eighth and gave up a solo home run to put the Rockies up 3-1. Down to their last out in the ninth, however, the Phillies rallied. Pinch-hitter JohnMayberry, Jr. hit a two-run homer to tie it, then in the tenth Shane Victorino hit a solo shot to give them a 4-3 lead. That was the final, wildly improbable, score.
Tuesday figured to be a slugfest with Kyle Kendrick against Aaron Cook. But Kendrick, in what may have been his last start, surprised us all with eight innings of shut-out ball. Ryan Howard hit two homers and the Phillies won 5-0. But all credit goes to Kendrick, who was simply dominant at Coors Field.
Wednesday afternoon was the more typical Coors Field kind of game, with no lead feeling safe--and a lot of dumb plays being made. The Phillies scored first, then fell behind. They again went ahead but had to keep adding on to hold the Rockies at bay in an 8-6 win. Ryan Howard had a double error but also drove in four, on a double and a homer.
Denver native Roy Halladay, not sharp, went seven innings. Bastardo pitched the eighth and gave up a run. Then, big surprise, in came Brad Lidge, another Denver native, for his first close of the year. He was lights out, making for a sweet ending to the series.
