SAMUEL BOTWINICK  |  Staff Writer
@avdbkr20samuel


Immediately following their extra-inning affair on Saturday night, which lasted until the wee hours of the morning, the question was how both teams would respond in Sunday's game.  It did not seem to affect the Phillies much as they were able to come away with a 9-5 victory over the Diamondbacks on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.

The Diamondbacks appeared to have the early momentum as, Roy Halladay, who started for the first time since May 5, allowed a lead-off triple to Tony Campana, who scored on Adam Eaton's ground out to shortstop to give the Diamondbacks a 1-0 advantage.

The Phillies seemed to be unfazed as they roared back for four runs in the bottom of the first.

Allowing the lead-off man on base is never a good idea, and it cost the Diamondbacks a great deal.  

After Patrick Corbin hit Roger Bernadina to start the inning, he allowed a single to Michael Young, and immediately after, walked Erik Kratz.  The Phillies, as they have been doing recently, made sure to capitalize on their good fortune.

Darin Ruf came through again, with one out in the first, singling to left, scoring Bernadina.  Cody Asche followed with a two-run double to right, scoring Young and Kratz.  As if that was not enough for the Phillies', Kevin Frandsen grounded out to shortstop, scoring Ruf from third, and giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead.

The Diamondbacks, however, were not going to go down easy.

After A.J. Pollock singled and then stole second, he advanced to third on Didi Gregorius's single to right, and scored on Tuffy Gosewisch's sacrifice fly to center to cut the Phillies' lead to two, 4-2.

Having a two run lead has usually not been enough for the Phillies this year, especially when Halladay is  pitching.  John Mayberry did not leave things to chance in the bottom of the fourth, going yard on a two-run shot to left to help push the Phillies further ahead 6-2.

For good measure, the Phillies put on an offensive clinic in the bottom of the sixth.  It turned out to be helpful in the final outcome of Sunday's game. 

With one out, Corbin allowed a single to Asche, who advanced to second on Corbin's error, which enabled Frandsen to reach first.  After walking Mayberry, Chase Utley made Corbin pay.

With the bases loaded, Utley singled to right, scoring Asche.  Following a pitching change, Heath Bell surrendered a two-run double to Bernadina, scoring Mayberry and Frandsen, giving the Phillies a monster lead of 9-2.

With offensive-driven teams, it is not over until the end of the game.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, Pollock crushed a three-run bomb to left center off right-handed reliever, J.C. Ramirez, to cut the Phillies' lead back down to 9-5.

Halladay was in his old form on Sunday, tossing six innings, while surrendering two earned runs on four hits, while striking out two.

Corbin struggled, tossing 5 1/3 innings, while surrendering nine runs, eight earned, on seven hits, while punching out four batters.

The Phillies will try to continue their offensive success and good pitching as they travel to Citi Field to play the Mets at 7:10 tomorrow night.   


-  Samuel Botwinick is the staff writer for the Philadelphia Baseball Review.  Contact him at sbotwinick@philadelphiabaseballreview.com or @avdbkr20samuel on Twitter.
 

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