The Phillies dropped the first of a four-game series Thursday night, falling to the Cubs in the 11th inning at Citizens Bank Park following a blown save by a previously flawless Ryan Madson.
Despite getting an early lead on a three-run home run by shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who made his return to the lineup after a several-day absence, the Phillies’ offense continued to display its inconsistency, failing to dent the Cubs’ bullpen pitching efforts for the remainder of the contest. A rain delay put a sudden halt to Philadelphia’s chance to knock in some more runs, but the team wasn’t able to get anything going after the postponement (just two hits were recorded after a fourth-inning single by Placido Polanco), and the defense ultimately was not able to able to hold the Phils’ slim lead.
Madson came into the game with a spotless record as the team’s fill-in closer, but couldn’t contain Chicago in the late goings after another relief pitcher struggled to wrap up the game; Jose Contreras gave up back-to-back doubles with two outs in the eighth. Polanco’s costly throwing error in extra innings also didn’t help the cause, as the Cubs’ Tyler Colvin was able to score the go-ahead run from second base.
Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick began the game on the mound and threw three scoreless innings, but wasn’t able to continue after weather delayed the game for almost two hours. Meanwhile, Raul Ibanez was one of the few offensive standouts other than Rollins, notching a pair of hits and scoring one of the team’s three runs on the night.