PBR - For whatever reason, wins have not come easily for the Phillies this season at Citizens Bank Park and Sunday's victory over the Giants was no different.
Joe Blanton tossed eight strong innings, but it was Jimmy Rollins' RBI-single in the 12th inning that lifted the Phillies past the Giants, 6-5. It was the Phillies second extra inning game in as many days and third within the past week.
Rollins laced a Brad Penny fastball to center to score Carlos Ruiz who reached earlier in the frame on a walk. Laynce Nix, activated prior to Sunday's game after missing nearly three
months with an injured calf, singled to right in the 12th allowing Ruiz
to move from first to third.
Blanton scattered seven hits and three runs over his eight innings, striking out six. The Phillies' bullpen combined for four scoreless innings with Kyle Kendrick securing the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He's now tossed 18 2/3 scoreless innings dating back to June 28.
Entering Sunday the Phillies had the worst record at home in the National League. The win snapped a seven-game home losing streak.
Nate Schierholz second homer of the afternoon, a solo shot to right, tied the contest in the eighth at 3-3.
The clubs traded runs in the first and the fourth, leaving the contest tied until the seventh when John Mayberry Jr. hit his second homer of the afternoon to give the Phillies a 3-2 advantage.
The Phillies now sit 12 games below .500 and welcome Milwaukee for a three-game set. Roy Halladay is scheduled to oppose Randy Wolf in the series opener Monday night.
- Patrick Gordon is the editor of the Philadelphia Baseball Review. Contact him at pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com or @Philabaseball on Twitter.