SB Nation Philly - Phillies Come Back To Win On Jayson Werth Walk-Offhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48987/philly-fave.png2010-09-19T16:59:46-04:00http://philly.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14592672010-09-19T16:59:46-04:002010-09-19T16:59:46-04:00Preview: Phillies Host Nationals For Three Game Set
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<p>Sports Network) - Being in the thick of the playoff race has seemed to energize the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a>. That especially holds true for midseason pickup <span>Roy Oswalt</span>.</p>
<p>Oswalt will look to win a fourth straight start this evening when Philadelphia kicks off a nine-game homestand with the first of three straight contests with the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Nationals</a> at Citizens Bank Park.</p>
<p>Since getting swept by the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a> over four games in late August to fall three games behind the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Braves</a> for first place in the National League East, the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a> have won 16 of 20 and are now three contests up on the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a> for the division's top spot.</p>
<p>Oswalt has certainly done his part, winning six straight decisions since losing his Phillies debut on July 30 to the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a>. He was tagged for four earned runs in that outing, but has yielded more than three runs in just one of his eight outings since and has a 1.98 earned run average in nine starts since getting traded from the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a>.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old righty hurled his first shutout in a Phillies uniform and second of the season on Sunday, tossing a four-hitter versus the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a>.</p>
<p>"I feel like I've got a new life," Oswalt said after throwing his eighth career shutout. "I've been out of playoff contention for about five years. Now we're on the verge of trying to get back in. These guys have been there two years and they've got a ring. I don't. Hopefully, I can push them to get another one."</p>
<p>Oswalt, who is 12-13 with a 2.94 ERA in 29 total starts this year, got his revenge over the Nationals on Aug. 22 at home with seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball in a 6-0 victory and is 4-3 with a 3.40 ERA lifetime versus the franchise.</p>
<p>The Phillies are bumping Oswalt up a day to align their rotation for next week's series with the Braves, but first go for their fifth straight victory in their opener with Washington.</p>
<p>Philadelphia extended its win streak on Wednesday with a 10-5 triumph in Florida to complete the three-game sweep. <span>Raul Ibanez</span> and <span>Wilson Valdez</span> both collected three hits and two RBI, while <span>Chase Utley</span> homered and scored twice as the Phillies also collected their eighth win in nine games.</p>
<p><span>Roy Halladay</span> posted his NL-leading 19th win of the season despite allowing three runs and 10 hits over six innings with nine strikeouts.</p>
<p>Washington comes to town having won two straight, including Wednesday's rubber match of a three-game series with the Braves that helped the Phils extended their division lead. <span>Justin Maxwell</span> hit a grand slam in the second inning of a 4-2 victory.</p>
<p>"Hopefully next year we're in [the Braves] shoes," said Maxwell. "We want to be fighting for a playoff spot. To say that ... that's what it is right now. But we're not really thinking about it that way. We want to finish the season strong and build for next year."</p>
<p><span>John Lannan</span> was charged with two runs over six innings to get the win for Washington, which had lost six straight before posting consecutive victories.</p>
<p>Especially looking to finish strong this year is Nats starter <span>Jason Marquis</span>, who has been limited to just 10 starts due to an elbow injury. He has pitched to a 2.40 ERA over his last five starts, but is just 2-3 in that span.</p>
<p>After winning his first two decisions of the season, the right-hander fell back into the loss column on Saturday despite six innings of two-run ball versus Florida. Marquis also struck out a season-high eight batters, but fell to 2-8 with a 6.60 ERA this year.</p>
<p>Marquis, 32, was drilled for seven runs -- six earned -- over 4 1/3 innings of work at Philadelphia back on April 12 prior to his injury, but did hold the club to just a run over five innings on Aug. 20. Marquis, though, dropped a 1-0 road loss and is 5-6 with a save and 5.03 ERA in his career against the Phillies.</p>
<p><span>Nyjer Morgan</span> will begin serving his suspension for the Nationals after appealing two separate bans. The speedy outfielder was hit with a seven-game suspension for throwing a ball into the crowd in Philadelphia on Aug. 21, but had that ban rescinded, while his eight-game suspension for his actions at Florida on Sept. 1, including charging the mound, was upheld.</p>
<p>Morgan was also fined and is eligible to return to action on Sept. 25.</p>
<p>The Phillies have won three of their last four over the Nationals and lead the season series, 7-5. They are 24-9 at home against Washington since the start of the 2007 season.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/17/2321162/preview-phillies-host-nationals-for-three-game-setJason Brewer2010-09-19T16:57:35-04:002010-09-19T16:57:35-04:00Phillies Come Back To Win On Jayson Werth Walk-Off
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<p><span class="caps">BOOM</span>.</p>
<p>Down three runs in the ninth, here’s all you need to see:</p>
<p>1. Polanco single<br>
2. Utley double<br>
3. Howard single, Utley and Polanco score<br>
4. Werth home run, Howard scores</p>
<p>Game over. Vance Worley gets his first major league win, Charlie’s poor managerial decisions get bailed out by a J-Dub Yahtzee (his 24th) over the big wall in center. Phils win their 89th of the season, stay three games ahead of the Braves.</p>
<p>God I love this team.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/19/1698247/phillies-come-back-to-win-onMichael Levin2010-09-19T15:40:27-04:002010-09-19T15:40:27-04:00Morse Homers Off Blanton Mistake, 4-3 Nationals
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<p>With two on and one out, Blanton forced a Roger Bernadina pop out and looked like he would escape another jam. As Danys Baez warmed up in the pen, Joe Blanton left one out over the plate to journeyman Mike Morse, who made him pay by depositing it into the right field seats. That’ll be it for Blanton after 112 pitches — he’s lifted for pinch hitter Greg Dobbs in the bottom of the sixth.</p>
<p>The Braves lead is three in Flushing heading into the 8th.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/19/1698062/morse-homers-off-blanton-mistake-4Michael Levin2010-09-19T15:19:30-04:002010-09-19T15:19:30-04:00Werth Singles, Phillies Tack on Another, 3-1
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<p>After being hit by a pitch right on the hip and stealing second on a called third strike for Ryan Howard, Placido Polanco was in scoring position for Jayson Werth. This season, that’s been a bad place to be with Werth at the plate. But a first pitch right in his wheelhouse turned into a line drive to left and Polanco came around to score.</p>
<p>This turned out to be the last pitch of the game for Yunesky Maya, exiting after 4.2 innings and three runs in, with one still on the basepaths. Ibanez singled, so Schneider steps up with two runners on. A double-steal later and Schneider was in prime position to add to his <span class="caps">RBI</span> total, but a strikeout ended the inning.</p>
<p>After Feliciano retired Brian McCann, Derrek Lee stepped in to face Manny Acosta with the bases loaded and two outs. Having only surrendered three home runs this season, Acosta was not expected to give up a bomb to the quickly aging veteran. But he did. Braves lead 6-2.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/19/1698023/werth-singles-phillies-tack-onMichael Levin2010-09-19T15:06:11-04:002010-09-19T15:06:11-04:00Phillies Up, 2-1, On Schneider Double
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<p>Phillies catchers continue to stay hot as Brian Schneider (2-2 on the day) doubles in Werth and Ibanez to give them a 2-1 lead. Schneider has already bested his <span class="caps">RBI</span> total before the All-Star Break with 8 since the summer classic. He’s also hit safely in five straight games.</p>
<p>Aside from a leadoff home run in the third by Willie Harris in the first time ever facing Blanton, Cupcakes has fared well, striking out eight in five innings, while walking none. Slumping Placido Polanco leads off the bottom of the fifth, trying to extend the lead.</p>
<p>In Flushing, the Braves have tied it at two off an infield single by Alex Gonzalez. R.A. Dickey managed to allow ten hits and strike out none while only giving up two runs. Knuckleballers are weird. Pedro Feliciano is in the middle of a bases loaded jam with just one out and Brian McCann at the dish. Elsewhere, San Diego is down 2-0 to the Cardinals in the 4th.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/19/1698000/phillies-up-2-1-on-schneider-doubleMichael Levin2010-09-19T13:47:01-04:002010-09-19T13:47:01-04:00Phillies Look for Series Sweep of Nationals Behind Blanton
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<p>Same old with the lineup except Brian Schneider is in for Carlos Ruiz. Interesting that Charlie wouldn’t give Dom Brown a start today, seeing as Yunesky Maya is a smallish righty lacking overpowering stuff, but I can’t really fault Manuel for staying with success. Ibanez has been on fire lately.</p>
<p>Blanton throws a perfect first inning, the first scoreless first inning for the Phillies opposition since Monday.</p>
<p>Everybody’s favorite team to root for, the New York Mets, are up 2-1 early over the Braves. Hopefully R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball confuses Atlanta enough for the Mets to steal one.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/19/1697865/phillies-look-for-series-sweep-ofMichael Levin2010-09-18T22:32:16-04:002010-09-18T22:32:16-04:00Recap: Philadelphia Phillies Top Washington Nationals 5-2
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<p>Tonight's Phillies game went oddly similar to the way last night's went. Washington jumped off to a quick 1-0 right in the top of the first only to see the Phillies put the game out of reach by the 3rd inning. The Phils once again got solid starting pitching for 6 innings, but tonight it was Kyle Kendrick, who brought a career 7+ ERA against the Nationals.</p>
<p>Kendrick, as he seems to have time after time just when it looks like he's about to lose his job, turned a very solid effort going six innings giving up just 2 runs on 6 hits. The bullpen closed it out including another appearance from Ryan Madson and a perfect ninth from Brad Lidge, who notched his 23rd win.</p>
<p>Ryan Howard made history tonight in the bottom of the third when he smacked a 2-run opposite field shot. He became the first Phillie to ever have 5 straight seasons with 30 HRs and 100 RBI. With the homer, Howard also passed Pat Burrell to take over 3rd place on the Phils' all time home run list. That puts him only 7 HRs behind Del Ennis for second place all time, but he'll have a ways to go before he threatens Mike Schmidt's 548.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/18/1697110/recap-philadelphia-phillies-top-washington-nationalsJason Brewer2010-09-18T20:52:29-04:002010-09-18T20:52:29-04:00Ryan Howard Sets Phillies Record With HR
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<p>With his 2-run shot in the bottom of the 3rd inning against Washington tonight, Ryan Howard became the first player in franchise history to have five consecutive 30 HR/100 <span class="caps">RBI</span> season.</p>
<p>He also passed Pat Burrell on the Phillies all time home run list to take over third place. Howard now has 252 HRs behind Del Ennis (259) and Mike Schmidt (548).</p>
<p>Quite a night for the “Big Piece.”</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/2010/9/18/1697026/ryan-howard-sets-phillies-recordJason Brewer