With his 2-for-4 night (two doubles), Placido Polanco inched closer to the 2,000 hits milestone.
268 players currently have reached the 2,000-hit mark and Polanco could become the 269th very soon, needing only two more hits for 2,000.
Polanco has been swinging a hot bat this months, hitting .341 (14-for-41) with four doubles the last 10 games. With how well he’s hitting, it’s very likely that he does it tonight against the Padres in front of the Philadelphia crowd.
Whether or not the 36-year-old will get to 3,000 remains to be seen — likely doubtful. But the important thing is that Polanco has been swinging a hot bat for the Phillies, who have been a better offense overall during May thanks to players like him and Carlos Ruiz.
Bullpen Stays Strong — After coughing up three leads against the Mets last series, deja vu was threatening to rear its ugly head again last night. But Antonio Bastardo and Chad Qualls pitched beautifully the last three innings.
Vance Worley gave way to the bullpen, holding a 5-3 lead. Bastardo pitched the 7th and 8th innings, allowing only a walk while striking out three to lower his bullpen-best ERA to 1.80. Qualls allowed only a hit in the 9th, striking out two to give the bullpen its first scoreless outing since May 1 (not counting Joe Blanton’s complete game shut out on May 3).
Tonight’s Line up
Rollins, SS
Polanco, 3B
Victorino, CF
Pence, RF
Wigginton, 1B
Ruiz, C
Mayberry, LF
Galvis, 2B
Halladay, P
TTB 