Lidge Blows Another One, Phils Fall in Extras

*Click on picture for larger view of today's score card*

For the second game in a row, closer Brad Lidge came into the game with a chance to lock down a win against the Dodgers. Lidge got Mark Loretta to ground out to short before Rafael Furcal pinch hit for Juan Castro...and hit is exactly what he did. With a 2-2 count, Brad threw Furcal a slider that dropped right over the middle of the plate and six seconds later went just over Jayson Werth's glove and landed behind the right field wall of Dodger Stadium. Needless to say Lidge (coming off a perfect season in 2008) looked stunned after blowing his sixth save of 2009. Lidge struck out pinch hitter Casey Blake and got Pierre to ground out to second to send the game to extras.

The game looked destined to be a pitcher's duel even after Andre Ethier's 4th inning home run off Joe Blanton. Both starters pitched very well in this game, both going six innings and both striking out five. The Phillies bats were quiet all day until the 7th when Mr. Dodger Stadium, Matt Stairs, singled to right off of LA reliever Ronald Belisario scoring Ibanez and Feliz to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. Clay Condrey, JC Romero, and Ryan Madson combined for two scoreless innings successfully building the "Bridge to Lidge." The 9th inning saw Jimmy Rollins pinch hit after being taken out of the starting lineup due to his continued struggles at the plate. He continued his struggles when he popped out to second to end the top of the 9th. The bottom of the 9th, well we already discussed that...

The Phils continued not to hit, going 1-2-3 in each of the three extra innings. Scott Eyre and Chad Durbin held the Dodgers scoreless until the 12th when Durbin gave up a walk-off home run to Andre Ethier, his second walk-off hit in as many nights. Overall a tough loss for the Phillies but they still have a chance for the split and they can gain ground on the Mets next week in Flushing.

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-Positive of the Game: Pitching. Blanton continued the stretch of excellent pitching from the rotation. Despite two hits, Condrey continued his solid season, Romero continued his return to form, and Madson was dominant. Eyre and Durbin kept the team in it in extra innings, despite the eventual walk-off given up by Chad. Brad is the obvious exception from tonight's "positive of the game."

-Negative of the Game: Hitting. The top five of the order went 3 for 22 with 0 RBIs. Jimmy continued his struggles.

-Player of the Game: Andre Ethier. 3 for 5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, walk-off home run

-Play of the Game: A tie! Furcal's game tying home run in the 9th, video. Ethier's walk-off home run, video.

-Next Up: Sunday Night Baseball against the Dodgers. Bastardo (1-0, 1.50) vs. Wolf (3-1, 3.21)