Rubber Match Set For Sunday

Riding the momentum of Raul Ibanez's walk-off homerun, the Fightin' Phils came into today's game ready to pound the Braves and go up 2-0 in the playoff like series. And with Cliff Lee scheduled to start, the Phils chances at winning the series looked extremely bright.

Lee continued his hot stretch at home by mowing down the Braves in the first few innings. Through the first 4 innings Lee faced just 13 batters only surrendering a single to Alex Gonzalez in the first. Lee was dominant on the mound and even more so at the plate. In the bottom of the third, Lee blasted the 10th pitch of his at-bat into the seats in right-center to give the Phils a 1-0 lead. For Lee it was his first career HR but it would unfortunately be the lone run of the day for the Phils.

Braves starter Tommy Hanson locked down after the Lee HR and finished the day pitching 7 innings only surrendering 1. In the 5th, the Braves knotted things at 1 when Dan Uggla homered to left. Neither sides scored in the remainder of the game and for the second straight day, the game headed into extra innings. Eventually the Braves got to young reliever Michael Stutes by roughing him up for 3 runs to give them a commanding 4-1 lead. Unable to respond in the bottom of the inning the Phils lost the second game of the series setting up tomorrow's rubber match.

Basically if it weren't for a lucky Cliff Lee swing the Phils would have gotten blanked. Aside from the Lee homer, the Phils managed just 5 hits which is unaccaptable in such a crucial series. In their defense they were facing one of the best pitchers in the game, but they still need to play small ball and find ways to win even against a top notch pitcher. The 1-4 of Rollins, Mayberry, Utley and Howard went a combined 1-18 in today's game, the only hit being Mayberry's double in the 6th. Rollins, Utley and Howard the veterans and motors of this offense were non-existent today and need to figure things out for tomorrow.

Defensively Lee was great pitching 8 giving up just 1, and the bullpen of Bastardo and Perez were dominant once again. Although Stutes gave up 3 runs in the 11th, I can't get too mad as he has recently been outstanding in relief.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, the Phils have the opportunity to still win this series and still head into the All-Star break with a 3.5 game lead over the Braves. In the all important finale it will be Cole Hamels going up against Derek Lowe.