Tampa turned the tables on Philly by scoring a pair of first inning runs off Brett Myers on RBI groundouts by Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria. B.J. Upton knocked home another run with a single in the second and Jason Bartlett executed a safety squeeze to score Cliff Floyd in the fourth. For Philly, Eric Bruntlett got to rookie David Price with a pinch-hit homer in the eighth and an Evan Longoria throwing error in the ninth plate plated the other run. Even though Price wasn't nearly as dominant as he was in Game 7 of the ALCS, he was able to get the final seven outs of the game to make a winner of "Big Game" James Shields.
Things might've turned out differently in the bottom of the ninth had Jimmy Rollins got aboard on a hit by pitch after a leadoff double by Carlos Ruiz. Replays showed a fastball from Price grazing Rollins' jersey but home plate umpire Kerwin Danley did not see it that way. Rollins, though, didn't made a big stink about it.
The Phillies were upset with Danley after he appeared to ring up Rocco Baldelli in the second innning but then pointed to first base ump Fieldin Culbrath for an appeal. Baldeill instead drew a walk to push Dioner Navarro to second and he eventually came around to score what turned out to be the winning run.
Still, the Phillies have nobody to blame but themselves as they've gone 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position in the first two games. At least they got seven innings from Brett Myers after a shaky start and J.C. Romero worked the last inning so the Phillies pen will be well rested for Game 3 tomorrow. James Shields lasted 5 2/3 innings and Dan Wheeler supplied another shutout inning before Price showed he was human.
It wasn't a great night for former Jay Jayson Werth. He committed a throwing error in the first to help Tampa score its first two runs and he was doubled off first in the fifth. He went 1-for-5 with two K's. However, Werth did throw out Baldelli at the plate in the second innning.
At least Ryan Howard came to life with a pair of hits but Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins were a combined 0-for-9 with one walk. For Tampa, B.J. Upton redeemed himself with two hits and the GW RBI while Dioner Navarro and Jason Bartlett also had two hits apiece.
The scene now shifts to Citizens Bank Park for Game 3 Saturday night as ALCS MVP Matt Garza goes against the venerable Jamie Moyer. First pitch should fly around 8:30 p.m.
On a final note, wasn't it nice the game wrapped up before midnight Eastern Time?
* Headline approved and paid for by the Mike Green Party.
