By SAMUEL BOTWINICK | Staff Writer
@avdbkr20samuel
Less than 24 hours after the controversial George Zimmerman verdict, it is only fitting that John Mayberry hit the game winning hit in a 4-3 victory over the White Sox On Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Mayberry came through in a big way to reward the few diehard Phillie fans still in the stadium by hitting a ball up the middle, scoring Chase Utley from third to win the game.
As in typical Phillie fashion, with every game in the Chicago White Sox series going down to the wire, Sunday's game was no different, with Jonathan Papelbon blowing his fifth save of the season, and allowing the Sox to tie the game at three heading into the bottom of the ninth.
With two outs and a runner on second, Josh Phegley grounded a single up the middle, scoring Blake Tekotte, and tying the game at three.
With so much at stake for the last game before the All Star break, the Phillies were able to get on the board early in the bottom of the first when Domonic Brown, who was struggling in the last two games against the White Sox, broke out of his mini-slump with a two-run double to center, scoring Michael Young and Jimmy Rollins to give them an early 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cole Hamels helped his own cause, singling to right, scoring Delmon Young from third, and pushing the Phillies further ahead, 3-0.
Part of the reason why Hamels has not won many games this year is because when something does not go his way, everything seems to go wrong for him. Where he seems to have turned the corner in this regard was on display in the top of the seventh on Sunday. Adam Dunn led off with a bloop double, which Brown dove for and missed by a foot. Dayan Viciedo then followed with a single. Jeff Keppinger attempted to claw the Sox back into the game with a long single to right center, scoring Dunn, and putting runners on first and third with no outs. Hamels, however, was able to bear down and strike out Josh Phegley and force Brent Morel into an around-the-horn double play to end the inning with limited damage, with the Phillies leading 3-1.
The White Sox drew one run closer in the top of the eighth when Alejandro De Aza barely kept a home run ball fair inside the right field line.
Hamels pitched outstandingly for the Phillies, tossing eight strong innings, surrendering two earned runs on eight hits, while striking out seven.
Jose Quintana pitched almost as well, tossing six innings, surrendering three earned runs on five hits, and punching out five batters.
The Phillies are delighted to be .500 heading into the All Star break after all that went wrong with the first half of the season for them. They are energized and relieved to have a week off and be able to stay at Citi Field to play the Mets on Friday.
- Samuel Botwinick is a staff writer for the Philadelphia Baseball Review. Contact him at sbotwinick@philadelphiabaseballreview.com or @avdbkr20samuel on Twitter.
