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The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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By Vince DiGregorio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Jayson Werth almost went from hero to
goat, but the Philadelphia Phillies held on for the victory.
Werth had three hits and tied his career-high with four RBI to
help the Phillies rally from a three-run deficit to a 5-4
victory over the Braves in the opener of a three-game series on
Tuesday.
The Phillies were clinging to a 5-3 lead entering the ninth
inning and closer Brad Lidge on the mound. Lidge got the first
out before Mark Kotsay walked and went to second on defensive
indifference. Chipper Jones flied out to the left field fence
for the second out.
"(Jones) just missed it," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I
thought he might have tied it right there."
Brian McCann followed with what appeared to be a game-ending
flyout to center, but Werth misjudged it by breaking in and
watched helplessly as the ball sailed over his head for an RBI
double that scored Kotsay to pull the Braves within 5-4.
"I read the swing, but the crowd was yelling there and I wasn't
able to hear the contact," Werth said. "(McCann) kind of
one-handed it away on an offspeed pitch. I read (the flyball) in
right off the bat, but after a few steps in, I realized it
clearly wasn't in. Definitely a miscue in a bad situation
there."
Lidge walked Greg Norton before getting Jeff Francoeur to fly to
right center where Werth and Shane Victorino converged, but
Victorino made the catch to help Lidge record his 10th save.
With Mark Texiera out of the lineup because of back spasms, the
loss dropped Atlanta's road record to 5-15, worst in the major
leagues.
Werth had given Philadelphia its 5-3 advantage with a two-out,
bloop RBI single in the seventh.
"We're more of a second half of the game (type of) club anyway,"
said Werth, who notched his fourth career four RBI game. "We
usually hit better in the later innings.
"I haven't been really hitting that well this year with guys on
base. It's one thing I've been focusing on. I was glad to get
the guys in when it counted and when it mattered."
Atlanta reached Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick for three runs in
the first inning. Chipper Jones delivered an RBI single to
make it, 1-0. Kendrick got the next two batters out but Jeff
Francoeur lined a two-run single to right.
The Braves had a chance to add to their lead in the second when
they loaded the bases with two uts, but Brian McCann popped out
to end the threat.
"From there, I just try to keep us in the game," Kendrick said.
"I think our offense is going to score three runs. You don't
want to give up three in the first, but you've got to just
fight."
After Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes retired nine of the first 11
batters, Chase Utley singled and Ryan Howard doubled to deep
center field to start the fourth. One out later, Werth grounded
a two-run single to center to cut the deficit to 3-2.
"You don't want to start the game down 3-0," Werth said. "But I
don't think this team at any point panics or tries to do more
than what (we're) capable of doing."
Philadelphia took its first lead in the fifth inning with a pair
of two-out runs. Howard beat the overshift with a ground RBI
single to right to tie the game. Two batters later, Werth
scored Howard with a line single to left.
"It's good for us to manufacture some runs," Phillies manager
Charlie Manuel said. "Werth had a good night hitting. I don't
think you've seen the best of our offense yet."
Kendrick (3-2) went six innings and allowed three runs on six
hits. The righthander walked four and struck out two.
Reyes (1-1) lasted 6 2/3 frames and gave up five runs on 11 hits
with no walks and five strikeouts.
"I didn't walk anybody and was locating my fastball," Reyes
said. "Some of my best pitches were hitting their bats, but that
happens with good hitters."
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