The Philadelphia Phillies (29-24) had lost four games in a row since Roy Halladay's perfect game last Saturday. But the Phils were able to squeak out a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night, keyed by the two-run blast by Shane Victorino.
Halladay walked to the mound on Friday night to a roaring ovation from the sold-out crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
Halladay picked up his eighth victory of the season Friday night. He allowed 10 hits, walked one and struck out seven while only giving up two earned runs.
There was more good news for the Phils as Placido Polanco returned to the lineup for the Phils last night. Polanco had missed the previous six games because of a bruise and inflammation in his left elbow. Polanco provided a much-needed spark at the plate, going two for four in his return while scoring two runs.
The offensive star of the night had to be Shane Victorino, his 2-run home run off of San Diego Padres starter Mat Latos got the fans off their hands in the third inning. It was Victorino's ninth home run of the season which ranks second on the team trailing Chase Utley by one homer.
The Phils retook the lead in the third inning off of Victorino's homer, before giving up the tying run in the top of the fifth inning after an Adrian Gonzalez sacrifice fly to center field.
Philadelphia responded in the bottom of the fifth inning when they loaded the bases for Jayson Werth, who has struggled mightlily in this stretch for the Phils.
In a sign of how tough it has been for the Phillies to swing the bat with runners in scoring position the last two weeks or so, Werth got a bases-loaded walk and Citizens Bank Park erupted. I would put the fan reaction to this walk only behind the walk by Jamie Moyer the night the Phillies destroyed Johan Santana on Sunday Night Baseball.
The Phillies are now two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the division after the Braves lost to the Dodgers on Friday night.
Another great sign from Friday was the performance of former Mr. "Lights Out".
Brad Lidge took to the mound in the ninth inning, looking to hold on to a slim one run lead and he pitched a perfect ninth inning. Lidge struck out two in the ninth and said he said he felt "really good" last night. Lidge picked up his second save of the season in true "Lights Out" fashion.
The Phillies are back at it tonight at 7:05 for Game 2 against the Padres, when the aforementioned Jamie Moyer will go to the mound looking to follow up his solid start against the Marlins last Sunday.
Opposing the Phils tonight will be Jon Garland, who was been as hot as any pitcher in baseball the last couple of weeks. Garland has won six decisions in a row and has an ERA of 1.58 in his last seven starts.
That kind of pitching can prolong a slump, we'll see Saturday night if the Phils can break the four run barrier. A run total that the Phillies haven't hit in 12 games and counting.
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