On a crisp evening in the Bay Area, the Philadelphia Phillies brought their bats in their series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
Opposing pitcher Tim Lincecum came into tonight’s matchup opposite Roy Halladay with an 0-1 record and an 12.91 earned run average. The two time Cy-Young award winner’s early season woes continued as the Phillies used an aggressive first inning approach in their 5-2 victory over the Giants.
The Phillies tapped Lincecum for five runs on eight hits and a walk through six innings. It was the first time all season Lincecum went as far as the 6th inning but he still hasn’t given up fewer than five runs in a start.
After a one-out Placido Polanco double and Jimmy Rollins walk, Hunter Pence hit a line drive single to center to draw first blood. Shane Victorino and Laynce Nix would bring in the next three runs on a single and double respectively.
Collective groans could be heard in AT&T park, as Giants fans were seeing yet another slow Lincecum start where he failed to locate his fastball.
Halladay had a shaky first inning, allowing a lead off single to Angel Pagan and a walk to Melky Cabrera. He allowed a run on an Aubrey Huff sacrifice fly, but would retire Brandon Crawford swinging to minimize the damage and hold a 4-1 lead after one.
The Phillies would add their fifth run in the 4th inning. Freddy Galvis hit a two-out double to right, and Roy Halladay helped his own cause singling to right to score Galvis.
Halladay would get in a little trouble again in the bottom of the inning, allowing a second run to the Giants on a Lincecum sacrifice fly. Angel Pagan flew out deep to Hunter Pence, as a collective sigh of relief rang through the Delaware Valley.
Halladay’s night ended with eight innings pitched, allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Jonathan Papelbon ensured Halladay earned his third win of the season, as he notched his third save of the season.
NOTES
-The Phillies improve to 5-5 on the season, Giants fall to 4-6.
-The Phillies offense scored five runs on nine hits, an impressive showing off one of the best pitchers in baseball.
-Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence both went 2-for-4, batting in and scoring a run each.
-Jimmy Rollins showed a patient approach, the only Phillie tonight to earn a base with a walk, and came around to score a run.
-Juan Pierre was the only Phillie in the starting lineup to not reach base tonight, going 0-for-4.
-The team went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position, and left seven on base.
-(via Todd Zolecki):Â Phillies scored 4+ earned runs on Lincecum for first time since 07. Lincecum had a 1.66 ERA in last 9 starts vs. PHI, including postseason.
-In two straight games the Phillies have scored 13 runs. As it’s too early to say the offensive slump is over, it’s also too early to say this team is not capable of putting runs on the board.
-The Phillies and Giants will play game 2 of this series tomorrow night at 10:15 ET on the Comcast Network. The Phillies Joe Blanton (1-1, 2.35) will face the Giants Madison Bumgarner (1-1, 3.97). Phillies will try to win their 2nd series of the season.
2B: Polanco (1), Nix (2), Galvis (3).
WP: Halladay (3-0). LP: Lincecum (0-2). SV: Papelbon (3).
TTB 