Michael Martinez is turning into the 2011 version of Wilson Valdez.
Martinez’s two-out, two-run double in the top of the 9th gave the Phils a 4-2 lead and come-from-behind win over the Cubs Tuesday night. It was the second clutch hit for Martinez in the past week, slowly turning the groans to cheers in the Philadelphia crowd.
With two outs, Ben Francisco and Jimmy Rollins hit back-to-back singles before Martinez’s blooping double down the first base line. The ball got caught up in the Phillies bull pen, allowing Rollins to score from first base and add an extra run to the already go-ahead hit.
Before the 8th inning, it was Chicago’s game. They were hitting the cover off the ball all game but could only muster two runs in the 1st and none after. Reed Johnson, Starlin Castro, Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena all had multi-hit games for the Cubs.
But, despite Utley and Martinez’s heroics, the night belonged to a certain young short stop for the Cubs.
The Cubs may not have anything to look forward to as the season winds down as far as post season and October baseball but they do have something else to look forward to as the years go on: the growth of Starlin Castro.
The 21-year-old short stop, who reminds Phils fans of a young Jimmy Rollins, is taking Chicago by storm. The scrappy hitter with very little power in his bat showed some pop as his two-run homer in the first.
After a lead-off double by Johnson, Castro took Phils left-hander Cliff Lee yard for his third home run of the season. Castro, not known for hitting the long ball, treated the fans to a little power show with that blast.
The future star, who has showed a lack of disciple in the field – has made 18 errors this season thus far – made a brilliant play in the 8th inning. After Chase Utley tied the game with a two-run double and stole third, he gunned down Utley at home on a slow grounder, getting some assistance from a great block by Geovany Soto.
Lee settled in nicely after the rough first inning. He allowed two runs, both off the Castro homer, on eight hits while striking out six. He got the no-decision after Utley’s double in the 8th. Michael Stutes, who pitched the 7th and 8th innings, got his fourth win of the season and Antonio Bastardo ironed down his seventh save in as many chances with a three-strike out 9th.
2B: Brown (9), Utley (9), Martinez (2).
WP: Stutes (4-0). LP: Marshall (). S: Bastardo (7).
TTB 