The Phillies entered the top of the 8th inning of tonight's game at Busch Stadium down 2-1. They finished the inning up 10-2. It was a mix of awful pitching and timely hitting that led the the huge inning as the Phillies took the opening game of the series.
Three of the nine runs came from either walks that forced a run home or a batter being hit by a pitch. The rest came on singles from Ben Francisco, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Until that point, the Phils only managed four hits, three of which came from Carlos Ruiz, who was 4-4 with a walk on the night.
Roy Halladay had been looking for his MLB leading 10th win, but took the no decision after allowing just one run and four hits over six innings. Michael Stutes happened to be the pitcher of record in the 8th and took the win. Despite Halladay not getting the win, this was the seventh straight start that he's made which has ended in a Phillies victory.
The Phils will send Cliff Lee to the hill tomorrow against former Phillie Kyle Lohse.