The Phillies offense, which hasn’t scored more than three runs in ten days, has broken out in a big way in the first three innings against the Reds tonight.
The Phils got off to a quick lead as Placido Polanco hit a 2-run shot to deep left in the first. However, in the third is when things got really rolling.
The inning started off with a Chase Utley ground out to the pitcher. However Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard would both get on with singles. Raul Ibanez hit a single of his own to shallow left, scoring Polanco. Carlos Ruiz then drew a walk before John Mayberry continued the parade of singles, scoring both Howard and Ibanez.
Cole Hamels came up and knocked in Ruiz before Jimmy Rollins stepped up and deposited a pitch into the right field stands for a 3-run shot to put the Phils up 9-0.
Chase Utley is 0-3 so far and hasn’t sparked the sudden offensive surge, but there is clearly a fresh energy around the team tonight.