Late inning heroics: these are the Phillies of old that everyone has missed.
A two-run double by Placido Polanco in the 8th inning gave the Phils a 6-4 win over the Cubs.
Juan Pierre, pinch hitting in the pitcher’s spot, was hit by a pitch. He got to third on a Jimmy Rollins single that saw the Phillies short stop working the count and easily having one of the best at-bats for the Phillies this season.
Vance Worley was fantastic once again, pitching seven strong innings to lead the Phillies to within one game of .500. Worley allowed only one run on five hits and a walk, striking out five.
Worley didn’t allow a run until the 7th inning when he got Geovany Soto to ground into a double play and allowed a run to score. In the last 22 innings Worley has pitched he’s allowed only two runs.
The Phils jumped out to an early 4-0 lead off Cubs starter Chris Volstad. Volstad, who has struggled this season, gave up four runs in the first inning before settling down to finish six innings.
Rollins led off the game with a bunt single. After a Polanco strike out, Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence strung back-to-back singles to score Rollins and make it 1-0.
With two outs, Laynce Nix walked, Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run single and Pete Orr hit an RBI single to give the Phillies a quick 4-0 lead.
But the bull pen spoiled the early lead and Worley’s chance at a victory in the 8th inning. After Antonio Bastardo left a runner on, Chad Qualls entered and allowed an RBI single to Starlin Castro to make it a 4-2 game, crediting Bastardo with the run.
Bryan LaHair, who had killed the Phillies all series, struck again. He ripped a two-run homer off Qualls to right-center, tying the game up and erasing the lead.
But that lead was quickly erased in the bottom of the 8th with Polanco’s two-run double.
2B: Polanco (3).
WP: Qualls (1-0). LP: Maine (0-1). SV: Papelbon (8).
TTB 