Last night was one of those games that you can't explain, you just sit back and enjoy. Last night provided a season highlight for the Philadelphia Phillies, as this team was being dominated by Red starter Mike Leake and trailed by six runs in the bottom of the ninth and trailed by two with two outs, but against all odds they still pulled out the victory.
The Phillies (45-40) defeated the Cincinnati Reds in historic fashion last night, 9-7 in 10 innings. Philadelphia hit three home runs in the final two innings of this one, with the topper being Ryan Howard's walk-off shot in the bottom of the 10th that gave the Phillies their second straight victory.
Citizens Bank Park resembled a public library entering the bottom of the ninth inning as the crowd seemed disinterested in the game on the field and were happy to wait for the post-game fireworks. There's no way the Phillies could do it two nights in a row...
Mike Leake started on the mound in the bottom of the ninth for the Reds looking for his first complete game. Leake was cruising through eight innings of work throwing just 84 pitches and only allowing only five hits and one earned run.
Shane Victorino started the rally with a double off of Leake before Raul Ibanez flied out to center. Ryan Howard got the second run on the board as he laced an RBI single to left to make the score 7-2.
Jayson Werth added a single, before Greg Dobbs came to the plate and turned on a pitch that played the foul line to right field before finally hitting the foul pole and becoming a three-run shot for Dobbs which cut the lead to 7-5.
Leake's night was done and after rolling through the first eight innings, he finished with 8.1 innings pitched, giving up nine hits and five earned runs.
And then Ben Francisco walked which allowed Cody Ransom to provide the surprising moment of the night, as the recently called up infielder reached out and just got enough as he homered to right with two outs and tied the game at nine a piece.
Ryan Madson made his second appearance in two games since returning from the DL and picked up his second win in two days by pitching a scoreless top of the tenth.
And the bottom of the ninth was Ryan Howard time, Ibanez doubled to start the tenth and then Howard sent everyone home happy as his 17th home run of the season gave the Phillies their 45th win of the season.
Tonight, Roy Halladay gets the start as he tries to get the Phillies their third consecutive victory as they attempt to go into the All-Star break on a high note. The Phillies still sit 5.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
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