What A Walkoff Looks Like Graphically (And On Video)

The Fangraph for this game is just too sweet to not share. When Rollins stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with one out, a man on second, & the Phils down one Fangraphs gave them a 25 percent chance of winning. One swing of the bat changed that.

Here’s what a walkoff looks like without all the stats … particularly like Chris Wheeler saying, "Don’t hurt him now," as he’s about to cross home plate.

Recap: Phillies Beat Indians, 7-6

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Jimmy Rollins, playing in just his second game following a stint on the disabled list, hit a game-winning two-run homer with one out in the ninth to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a comeback 7-6 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Rollins, who was appearing in just his 14th game of the season, blasted a homer down the right-field line to give the Phillies’ their fifth win in seven games. Jayson Werth and Brian Schneider each added a solo homer, while Raul Ibanez drove in a pair of runs with a double in the fourth inning.

The hit made a winner of J.C. Romero (1-0), who pitched one scoreless inning. The win helped Philadelphia snap a nine-series home losing streak in interleague play.

Shin-Soo Choo blasted a pair of two-run homers for the Indians, who have lost eight of nine. Trevor Crowe added three hits and four runs scored in defeat. Kerry Wood (1-3) blew his third save of the season after giving up the game- winning hit.

Neither starting pitcher fared too well. Indians starter Jake Westbrook gave up four runs and seven hits in five frames, while Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick lasted only four innings, yielding five runs — four earned — on six hits and two walks.

With the game tied entering the ninth, the Indians grabbed the lead off the Phillies’ bullpen.

Anderson Hernandez began the inning with a bunt single off Chad Durbin. On the play, Durbin suffered a right hamstring strain, prompting his exit. Romero came in and surrendered a bloop single to Crowe to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

Carlos Santana sent a grounder to Rollins at shortstop, who tried to throw out Crowe at the plate. The throw was off-line, allowing Crowe to score the go- ahead run.

In the ninth, though, the Phillies won it. Wood issued a leadoff walk to Schneider, and Rollins’ blast two batters later sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The Indians wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Choo blasted a homer to right following Crowe’s leadoff double for a 2-0 lead to begin the game.

The Phillies answered with one in the home half. With runners on the corners and one out, Ryan Howard grounded into a 3-6 double play; however, as the play at second was not a force, Placido Polanco was allowed to score before the final out was recorded.

Werth then led off the second with a homer to center to tie the game, 2-2.

Cleveland forged back ahead on Santana’s sacrifice fly in the third, but Philadelphia took its first lead on the fourth on Ibanez’s two-run double.

The back-and-forth battle continued, with Choo’s second two-run blast following an error for a 5-4 Indians lead in the fifth, knocking Kendrick out of the game.

Tony Sipp relieved Westbrook in the sixth, and the first two Philadelphia batters reached base. Ibanez put a damper on the rally by grounding into a 6-4-3 double play, but Shane Victorino worked a walk to keep the inning alive. Sipp, however, picked off Victorino, who got in a rundown long enough for Howard to be thrown out at the plate to preserve the lead.

Schneider, though, blasted a leadoff homer off Frank Herrmann in the seventh to tie the game again, 5-5.

The Indians have lost 18 of their last 23 games in NL ballparks…Cleveland fell to 4-10 in interleague play this season…Werth ended with three hits, while Howard had two.

Phillies vs Indians Preview: Kendrick vs Westbrook

(Sports Network) – With an offense that has averaged just over three runs per game through the last 31 contests, starters Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick have both stepped up their game for the Phillies.

After the former took care of business last night, Kendrick gets his shot at putting together another solid outing this evening when Philadelphia continues a three-game series versus the Cleveland Indians at Citizens Bank Park.

While the Phillies’ season-long offensive struggles have been a surprise, so has the play of Moyer and Kendrick. Many wondered what the 47-year-old Moyer had left in the tank, while Kendrick only cracked Philadelphia’s rotation to begin the year due to injury.

However, both have been key to the Phillies staying in the hunt in the National League East despite the team hitting just .223 since May 18.

After throwing eight innings of two-run ball in a win over the Yankees on June 16, Moyer held the Indians to just a Russell Branyan solo homer over eight innings of a 2-1 victory last night.

The ageless lefty won his eighth game and allowed just two hits in all while tying Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 35th place on baseball’s all-time wins list with 266. However, he also tied the late Robin Roberts for the most homers allowed all-time, as Branyan’s blast was the 505th Moyer has allowed in his career.

Still, only Trevor Crowe managed another hit off Moyer.

“I was able to keep the ball down and they put the ball in play early in the count, which is a big help,” Moyer said.

Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth both knocked in a run in the first inning for the Phillies, who have won four of six and moved within 4 1/2 games of the first- place Braves in the National League East.

Playing for the first time since May 21 due to a strained calf that has twice landed him on the disabled list, Jimmy Rollins went 0-for-4 out of the leadoff spot for the Phillies last night.

Philadelphia now turns to Kendrick and the right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.33 earned run average over his last five starts. He is coming off a big victory over the Yankees on Thursday in which he held the defending World Series champs to a run and four hits over seven innings.

“I feel like I’m getting better every time I’m out there,” Kendrick said on the Phillies’ website after improving to 4-2 with a 4.48 ERA this year. “I think it’s just learning and maturing.”

The 25-year-old has faced the Indians once before, picking up a victory in Cleveland on June 19, 2007 after yielding three runs over six innings.

The Indians hope that Jake Westbrook can avoid the early-game woes tonight that plagued his last start. The right-hander allowed three first-inning runs in a start against the Mets on Thursday and five runs total over his seven- inning outing that also saw him give up a season-high 11 hits. Westbrook had a two-decision win streak end while picking up just his second loss in his last 10 starts.

“It is just frustrating to get down early with three runs in the first. Crooked numbers are what kills you,” Westbrook said.

The 32-year-old is 4-4 with a 4.76 ERA this year and has never before faced the Phillies. He is 6-7 with a 3.40 ERA in 26 career interleague games, 16 of those starts.

The Indians will take an outing tonight similar to the one Mitch Talbot turned in on Tuesday in a tough-luck loss. Talbot allowed just two runs and four hits over seven innings, but Cleveland lost its third straight game and for the seventh time in eight contests.

“I thought Mitch did a very good job,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “This guy continues to show us that he can make pitches when he has to. The first five innings he only threw 50 percent of his pitches for strikes, yet still made pitches when he had to. He gave us an opportunity to win the ball game.”

Cleveland, though, hasn’t scored more than four runs in any of its past six games, hitting .248 in that span.

The Indians took two of three from the Phillies when the clubs last met in Cleveland in 2007 and are visiting Philadelphia for the first time in the regular season.

Moyer Sets 'Dubious' Record In Win

The only run Jamie Moyer surrendered tonight was a second inning solo shot from Russell Branyan. The home run was the 505th given up by Moyer in his career, which ties him for the most ever with Phillies great Robin Roberts. Like Roberts, Moyer hasn’t given up so many bombs because he’s a bad pitcher … it’s just that he’s been around so long.

“If you’re around long enough stuff like this happens,” Moyer said. “I always had a lot of respect for Robin.”

Indians manager Manny Acta was impressed with the 47-year-old.

“We didn’t take good swings off Moyer and he flat-out toyed with us, It’s amazing what he’s doing at his age at this level.”

Phillies Beat Indians, 2-1

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Jamie Moyer allowed one run in eight strong innings and tied a dubious major league record in the process, helping the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Moyer (8-6), who yielded just two hits and a walk while fanning five in the win, tied the late Robin Roberts as the pitcher who has given up the most home runs in major league history. The 47-year-old has now allowed 505 home runs in his career after yielding one to Russell Branyan in the second.

Branyan became the 322nd different batter to homer off Moyer, and it was the 295th solo shot he has yielded.

Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth each knocked in a run in a two-run first for Philadelphia, which has won four of six.

Aside from Branyan’s homer, only Trevor Crowe and Shin-Soo Choo managed a base hit for the Indians, who have lost three straight and seven of eight. Mitch Talbot (7-6) nearly matched Moyer pitch for pitch, but gave up two runs, four hits and three walks in a seven-inning hard-luck loss.

Trailing by a run, the Indians threatened in the ninth.

J.C. Romero began the inning and allowed a one-out infield single to Choo and a walk to Carlos Santana. Brad Lidge was inserted out of the bullpen and struck out Austin Kearns and Jhonny Peralta to end the game for his fifth save.

The Phillies jumped on Talbot for two runs in the opening inning. Placido Polanco singled with one away and moved to second when Chase Utley drew a five-pitch walk. Howard followed a ground ball up the middle that beat the shift to plate Polanco and send Utley to third, and Werth’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.

Cleveland came back to halve its deficit on Branyan’s monster home run in the second inning into the upper deck in right field.

Philadelphia nearly extended its lead in the fourth after putting runners on first and third with one out. Shane Victorino lined a sharp grounder to second baseman Jason Donald, who flipped to Anderson Hernandez to record the force out at second. Victorino was safe at first, seemingly allowing a run to score, but Raul Ibanez was ruled to interfere with the play at second, resulting in a double play.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was ejected from the game by second base umpire Sam Holbrook for arguing the call.

The Indians, who didn’t record a runner in the third, fourth or fifth, had a pair of men on base with two outs in the sixth, but Santana flied out to the warning track in left.

After retiring Santana, Moyer set down six straight batters to get through the eighth unscathed.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (calf) was activated from the disabled list and played for the first time since May 21; he went 0-for-4 out of the leadoff spot. The team is 10-3 when he plays and 26-29 when he doesn’t this season…This is the Indians’ first regular season trip to Philadelphia, having opened up Citizens Bank Park with a preseason series in 2004…Cleveland has scored four runs or fewer in six straight games…Santana has reached base in each of his first 10 major league games…Philadelphia also made a host of other moves, sending catcher Carlos Ruiz to the disabled list with a concussion, calling up pitcher Mike Zagurski from Triple-A, designating infielder Greg Dobbs for assignment and optioning pitcher Scott Mathieson to Triple-A…Moyer’s 266th career win ties him with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 35th place on the all-time list…The Indians will start Aaron Laffey on Friday in place of David Huff, who was optioned to Triple-A

Phillies Activate Jimmy Rollins Before Series With Indians

According to Phanatic Mag, the Phillies indeed activated Jimmy Rollins from the DL today. They also “designated Greg Dobbs for assignment […] recalled Mike Zagurski from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, placed Carlos Ruiz on the DL and sent Scott Mathieson back to LV.”

Preview: Rollins Could Return To Lineup As Phillies Host Indians

(Sports Network) - After showing signs of breaking out of their lengthy offensive slump, the struggling Philadelphia Phillies' bats went right back to square one last time out. The possible return of Jimmy Rollins could help the club move forward once again.

Rollins could take the field for the first time in a month this evening, when Philadelphia begins a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies went 8-17 during a 25-game stretch from May 18-June 15, hitting just .217 as a team while averaging a horrid 2.5 runs per game. They then hit .285 and averaged eight runs per game in four contests -- three of those wins -- prior to getting held to just four hits in a 4-1 setback to Minnesota on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Philadelphia fell to 5-7 in interleague play this season, and the three-time defending National League East champions are now a season-high 5 1/2 games behind Atlanta for first place in the division.

"We keep doing things well but don't catch some breaks and we feel like we have to restart a little bit. We need to get it going in the right direction," said Roy Halladay, who fell to 8-6 on Sunday after allowing four runs -- three earned -- over eight innings.

Philadelphia's Wilson Valdez homered for a second game in a row, but his roster spot could be in jeopardy with Rollins' return looming. Valdez and Juan Castro have filled in for the injured shortstop this year, and one figures to be moved off the roster once Rollins returns.

That could be as soon as tonight for the 2007 NL MVP, who has missed the last 26 games since landing on the disabled list for the second time this season due to a strained right calf. He is batting .341 with two homers, seven RBI and 11 runs scored in 12 games this year.

His return would be welcomed by 47-year-old starter Jamie Moyer, who has sandwiched a pair of outstanding outings around one of the worst of his career.

Moyer went the distance for the second time this season on June 5 versus the Padres, throwing a two-run complete game. However, he was then tagged for nine runs while recording just three outs in Boston on June 11.

The left-hander rebounded versus the Yankees on Wednesday, holding the defending World Series champs to just a pair of runs on three hits and a walk over eight innings to improve to 7-6 with a 4.76 earned run average this season.

Moyer is 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA in five home starts this year and is 10-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 30 career outings against the Indians.

While Moyer has done well at Citizens Bank Park this year, Indians starter Mitch Talbot has been a more effective pitcher away from Cleveland. The 26- year-old is 7-5 with a 4.21 ERA for the season, but 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in six road starts.

Talbot is coming off a horrid home outing versus the Mets on Wednesday, when he gave up eight runs and 13 hits -- both career highs -- over 5 2/3 innings. It marked the first interleague start of the right-hander's brief career.

The Indians are just 4-8 versus the NL this year and have lost six of their last seven games after dropping Sunday's rubber match of a three-game series versus Pittsburgh by a 5-3 margin.

Carlos Santana fell a triple shy of the cycle for Cleveland and clubbed a two- run homer to go along with an RBI double. The rookie catcher is hitting .393 with two homers and eight RBI in his first nine MLB games.

Tribe starter Justin Masterson allowed two runs over six innings, but Cleveland's bullpen allowed three runs, two earned. The Indians also had runners on second and third with nobody out in the eighth inning while the game was tied, but the next three batters were all retired.

"We didn't execute and that's why we lost," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta.

The Indians took two of three from the Phillies when the clubs last met in Cleveland in 2007 and visit Philadelphia for the first time.