Down to the Wire

Phew! Take a deep breath now. The Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4.

Brett Myers started the game and pitched terrific. He pitched 6.0 innings, gave up just 2 earned runs on 4 hits. He did not allow a walk, and struck out 3. Not allowing a walk is big for Myers. He is getting his command back again.

Myers made one big mistake and that was to the red hot Ryan Ludwick, who hit a solo homerun. Ludwick hit his 4th homerun in 3 games. His season total is 27.

The Red Birds had a 2-0 lead before the Phillies made some noise. Chase Utley hit is 28th homerun of the year in the 7th inning. Going into the 8th, the Cardinals had a 2-1 lead.

But the Phillies would do what they've done many, many times before. Comeback. With two outs, Pat Burrell singled in Chase Utley to tie the game.

Big things come in small packages and that was the case for Shane Victorino. Victorino pinched hit for Geoff Jenkins in the 7th inning. Victorino would stay in the game, and get another at bat in the 8th inning. He crushed a 3-1 fastball over the right field fence. The Phillies took a 5-2 lead!

However, the Cardinals weren't about to quit either. In the 8th, Brendan Ryan would score on a Ryan Howard error. The Cards cut the lead to 2. The bases would load with 1 out, but Ryan Madson came in and got out of the jam by getting a ground ball double play.

Brad Lidge time. Although, he wasn't as "Lights Out" this time. Troy Glaus would lead off the inning with a solo homerun. 5-4, Philadelphia. Nobody out. The bases would load, now with one out.

Could this be Brad Lidge's first blown save of the year? As it ran through all our minds, it didn't run through Lidges'. He struck out Nick Stavinoha and Joe Mather back to back to end the game! The Phillies took the series, 2 games to 1.

The Phillies win, and Tom Gordon could be back soon. He made his first rehab appearance today since he went on the 15 day Disabled List with a strained rotator cuff. In 2/3 innings he allowed 2 earned runs. He walked one, stuck out one, and gave up a homerun. Looks like the same old Tom Gordon to me.