All eyes were on newest Phillie Hunter Pence to start the game, but it was Ryan Howard who ended up making the headlines. The Big Piece went 4-4 with a home run, a pair of doubles and three RBIs to lead the Phillies to a 7-4 victory Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Cliff Lee gave up four runs, but did strike out 11 pitching into the 8th inning. He also went 2-4 at the plate and scored a run. All year we’ve heard about this hitting contest between the aces, at this point, it would seem clear that Lee is running away with it.
Hunter Pence made his Phillies debut and stepped to the plate in his first at bat to a standing ovation. The cheer he got had some extra juice as Ryan Howard had blasted a home run in the previous at bat. Pence would hit a ground ball and actually appeared to beat out the throw easily, but was called out anyway. He would go hitless in his next three at bats, but finally broke through with an RBI single in the eighth.
The Phillies have now won 8 of their last 11 and will send Vance Worley to the hill tomorrow afternoon as they go for the sweep of the Pirates.