Coming off last night’s victory, the Phillies looked to win the series against they Cubs. They failed to do so, falling to the Cubs by the score of 5-2. The game started out well for the Phillies. In the top of the first inning Cole Hamels retired the Cubs on only 7 pitches. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 2nd inning, when Domonic Brown belted a solo home run to right center field, and the Phillies were up 1-0. That lead didn’t last long at all; in the top of the 3rd inning Donnie Murphy smashed a home run to right field that just barely went over the fence. That tied the game at 1. That score held until the 5th inning, when Junior Lake blooped a single to center field, that scored former Phillie, Cody Ransom.
This game was expected to be a pitching duel, and it lived up to it’s expectations. Each starter went at least 6.1 innings and gave up no more than 2 earned runs.
The bottom of the 7th inning started off with John Mayberry Jr. crushing a pitch down the left field line, Cubs left fielder Thomas Neal fielded the ball normally, but when he threw the ball in, he hurt his arm. Mayberry would end up with a double, and Neal was replaced by David DeJesus. The next batter was Erik Kratz. Kratz hit a ball to right field that was caught, but Mayberry would tag up and advance to third base. The pitcher’s spot was due up next, so Chase Utley pinch hit, and Cole Hamels was done for the night after throwing 7 strong innings. Chase Utley ended up hitting a line drive up the middle for a base hit that tied the game at 2. Later that inning, there was runners at 1st and 2nd for Kevin Frandsen. Frandsen lined a single to right field, but Chase Utley was thrown out trying to score from second base. There was a collision at the plate, and Cubs catcher Dioner Navarro was hurt. He was removed from the game, and Wellington Castillo replaced him. The Phillies did not score any runs in that 7th inning.
In the top of the ninth inning, there were runners at 1st and 2nd with one out. Luis Garcia threw a pitch, and Erik Kratz caught it and threw to first base and picked off Cody Ransom! There were then 2 outs with a runner at second. Later that inning, Donnie Murphy hit another home run, and that gave the Cubs the 5-2 lead, that would end up to be the final score of the game.
Tomorrow, the Phillies will look to take the rubber match of the series, and win a series, something they have not done in what seems like forever!
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