7-0 leads are almost insurmountable in the game of baseball.
But if it were men’s recreation softball, a 7-run defecit can erase rather easily. And the Phillies bull pen damn near served up the game like a 12-foot arcing lob pitch.
The bull pen’s leaking finally stopped and the Phillies held on to win, 7-5, and earn Roy Halladay his major league leading ninth win of the season.
Halladay was great as usual through seven innings, scattering six hits and striking out nine without allowing a walk. He’s allowed only 14 walks this season in his 14 starts.
It was the first win of Halladay’s career against the Cubs. He was 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA heading into tonight’s game in his career against the Cubs.
The Phillies jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second after Domonic Brown’s two-run homer down the right field line. It was his second home run of the season, snapping an 0-for-12 stretch.
Other than the early scoring, Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano was starting to settle. But the 7th inning proved Zambrano was left in a little too long. After loading the bases, Placido Polanco blasted a grand slam off the right-hander, ending his night with one out in the 7th.
But Chicago answered right back off. After pulling Halladay, who didn’t need to be worked in a seven-run game, Jose Contreras entered and did not settle.
Contreras hasn’t been the same since coming off the DL and the Phils were hoping to get him some work in a non-pressure situation. But he caved, allowing two hits and two walks while being credited with four runs. J.C. Romero, who allowed most of Contreras’ runs, was only charged with the fifth run of the inning.
Antonio Bastardo pitched the final out of the top of the 9th to earn the save, his second of the season.
2B: Ibanez (13). HR: Brown (2), Polanco (4).
WP: Halladay (9-3). LP: Zambrano (5-3). S: Antonio Bastard0 (2).
TTB 