Phils’ Bats Erupt, Avoid Sweep With Win

The Phillies mostly had one goal going into todays afternoon finale, do not get swept. Well, Philadelphia did its job. The Phillies beat Josh Beckett and the Red Sox 11-6 at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies broke away from the Sox with a massive six-run seventh that snapped a 5-5 tie. Slumping shortstop Jimmy Rollins hit a tie-breaking home run in the seventh, the blast snapped his 0-for-16 hit-less streak.

“The last few days, I’ve been going pretty close to the way I felt at the start of 2007, where my hands are going to the ball, the way I’m seeing the ball,” Rollins said. “All I can do is continue to put good swings on the ball. And if they find some leather, that’s bad; if they find some grass, that’s good.”

Philadelphia rolled from that point.

Third basemen Pedro Feliz led the charge and is now batting an amazing .318 after his 3-for-5 day at the plate. Feliz roped a two-run double, followed by two walks, Rollins gets drilled in the ribs. Shane Victorino came up and got walked to force in another run. The Phils were ahead and were able to find their comfort zone.

Slugger Ryan Howard had a nice ballgame, his two-run double capped a four-run fifth, and he was happy that the long week came to an end with a big win.

“It’s been kind of a rough week, it’s been kind of long,” Howard said. “Especially coming into today and this series, to be able to do what we did today makes it that much more exciting.”

The bullpen put in another long outing today in relief of starter JA Happ. The Phils’ bullpen has been over-used to say the least over the past few days, logging over 24 innings of work.

The worst parts of Happ’s performance came from back-to-back homers from Rocco Baldelli and Nick Green to open up the second. Then in the sixth, Red Sox starter Josh Beckett hit his second career home run at Citizens Bank Park. Beckett is 4-for-10 with two long balls in Philadelphia.

In what was most likely more exciting news than the Phillies win, was the 15-0 drubbing the Yankees put on the Mets this afternoon in New York. The Phils now lead the NL East by four games.

Raul Ibanez Alert:

Ibanez did not play today due to soreness in his left foot; he not expected to miss anymore time according to both Charlie Manuel and Ibanez himself. Ibanez’s cleat was cut down in size in order to relieve any further damage. He should be in the lineup Tuesday when the Phils start their three-game home series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cole Hamels will mount the rubber on Tuesday.