The Philadelphia Phillies offense was silent but waited for their moment against Pittsburgh Pirates emergency starter Brandon Cumpton Tuesday night. The Phillies picked up three runs in the sixth inning to chase Cumpton from the game and the young bullpen came through to get the game from starter Jonathan Pettibone to Jonathan Papelbon to pick up a 3-1 victory in PNC Park.
Ryan Howard ended his drought with a two-hit night, with an RBI single in the sixth inning to score Chase Utley, and he would come around to score on an RBI double by Delmon Young to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead. Pettibone had a solid night on the mound, although he threw a lot of pitches early on to set up a night that would rely on the bullpen later on. Pettibone ended his night after 5.2 innings pitched allowing just one run on three hits and six strikeouts. Pettibone was relieved after serving up a solo home run to Pittsburgh first baseman Garrett Jones in the bottom of the sixth inning after throwing over 100 pitches. A key double play prevented the Pirates from evening the score after the Phillies jumped to the 3-0 lead.
Jake Diekman, Phillippe Aumont, J.C. Ramirez and Justin De Fratus combined for two full innings of scoreless relief to help get the game in to the ninth inning for Papelbon to pick up the save. Antonio Bastardo also picked up an out along the way. Manager Charlie Manuel did make a questionable decision to stick with Bastardo in the eighth inning a little too long and then opting to go to De Fratus with the bases loaded rather than take a chance with Papelbon for a potential four-out save. De Fratus came through with the big third out in the eighth inning to get away with it. Papelbon's 1-2-3 ninth inning lowered his season ERA to 1.99.
Utley and Domonic Brown each made a spectacular defensive play in the game. Utley kept a ball up the middle from getting past him, saving a run in the process. A throw home was nearly reminiscent of his terrific defensive play in Game Five of the 2008 World Series, but instead of catching a base runner on the run,Utley's effort simply prevented a run from scoring while keeping the bases loaded. Pettibone got out of the jam following the play. Later Brown would throw a Pirates runner out at second base on a laser of a throw from left field. Brown fielded a ball with his momentum carrying him enough to take a chance on running to second, but Brown's throw was on the line to Utley, who made the tag at second.
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