Larry “Chipper” Jones has made a career killing the Phillies.
He did it again.
Jones hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning off of Brian Sanches in a wild 15-13 win by the Braves in a game that saw five lead changes. The Phillies entered the game at .500 but failed to get over that mark for the first time since being 1-0.
Halladay was cruising through the first four innings, allowing only three hits while resting on a 6-0 lead created by the Phillies, including a three-run double by Laynce Nix. But the wheels slowly started to fall off for Halladay.
After loading the bases, the Braves tacked on two runs before Brian McCann’s grand slam tied the game up, 6-6. It was only the fourth grand slam Halladay has surrendered in his career.
He went out the next inning and got shelled again, surrendering two runs on an RBI single by Jason Heyward to make it an 8-6 game and ending a night to forget.
The offense wasn’t done for Halladay though. Ty Wigginton walked and John Mayberry singled to start off the 7th inning. Then Ruiz put a 1-0 offering from Eric O’Flaherty over the left field wall, giving the Phillies a 9-8 lead.
Ruiz’s offensive outburst wasn’t done as he blasted a three-run bases clearing double in the 8th to give the Phils a commanding 12-8 lead.
Ruiz shattered his career high five RBIs he set last April with his game. He went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs. The homer was his fourth of the season and his two doubles game him six on the year.
He was the first Phillies catcher to ever drive in seven runs and it was the most RBIs by a Phillie since Jayson Werth’s three-homer game in 2008 produced eight RBIs.
No lead was safe in this and the Braves put up a five-spot in the botto of the 8th inning to put the Braves back on top 13-12.
Jose Contreras allowed a run and loaded the bases before giving way to Michael Schwimer. Schwimer couldn’t stop the bleeding as he allowed three more of Contreras’ runs to score and one of his own to cough up the lead to Atlanta.
The Phillies tied it up in the bottom of the 9th as Braves closer Craig Kimbrel blew his first save of the season. Juan Pierre scored on an infield single by Shane Victorino to tie the game up at 13-apiece.
Two innings later Jones’ heroics ended the marathon.
2B: Nix (6), Ruiz 2 (6), Galvis (5). HR: Ruiz (4).
WP: Durbin (1-0). LP: Sanches (0-1).
TTB 