Playing The Game

Baseball's ultimate "gamer" Chase Utley is back in the Phillies' lineup, and seems to be the current cure for what was looking like a long term slump for the club. Last night, the Phils won in fashion, with a 5-4 walk-off victory in the bottom of the 19th down in South Philadelphia. Highlights of the game included a game tying home run by Ryan Howard in the bottom of the 10th, five scoreless relief innings from Danys Baez (who usually is ousted before he records three outs), and most notably a scoreless top of the 19th from utility infielder Wilson Valdez; who joined the likes of George Herman Ruth as the only player to start in the infield and eventually tab the win on the mound. When Jimmy Rollins crossed home plate the clock above Ashbourne Alley was resting its hands right around 1:30 AM. With a day game later "that day," Manuel inserted Michael Martinez, Dane Sardinha, and Wilson Valdez into the starting lineup. The offense posted 10 runs, behind two hits and three RBI's from one Cliff Lee, and a three-run homer from the surging Raul Ibanez. When Cliff's line was closed in the 8th, the Phils held a 10-4 lead thanks to Chase Utley's first home run of the season; didn't keep the fans waiting too long. Jose Contreras made his first appearance off the DL and set the Reds down 1-2-3 in the ninth and the Fightin Phils pranced away with another series win in their back pocket. It seems to all be clicking right about now, and all the men in red are doing, is simply playing the game.

JD