Philadelphia Phillies dominate Houston Astros 9-4 in game two of series – MLB Update
The Philadelphia Phillies put in a brilliant effort as they comprehensively beat the Houston Astros 9-4 in game of two of their series at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia on April 2.
In the second game between the Phillies and Astros, the former didn’t leave any doubt about who dominated the field. After the first game where the Phillies almost lost, it seemed like in the second game they were out to teach a lesson, which they surely
did.
The game started off with three singles, one after another by Polanco, Rollins and Howard which helped score a run. Ben Francisco couldn’t play the ball and ended up striking-out. Afterwards Raul Ibanez was successful in hitting an opposite field double,
which scored Rollins from second base. However Howard wasn’t able to make it home and was stranded near where Carlos Ruiz flied to left.
Later, Angel Sanchez managed the first hit from the Astros side and was joined by a triple home by Carlos Lee.
Shane Victorino and Francisco collided on the triple and later Victorino left the game due to a minor injury but before he did that he singled in two runs. Lee was alone at the third base when Cliff Lee struck-out Bill Hall. Chris Johnson struggled but managed
to make it back to the mound.
The Phillies soon got that run back and another one in, in the home half of the fourth inning. Ibanez walked a nice at-bat and Ruiz was hit by a pitch but Wilson Valdez quickly struck-out.
Cliff Lee got into action as he laid down a bunt which moved Ibanez and Ruiz to the second and third base. In an RBI situation Shane Victorino had two outs and singled a fly which was out of right-fielder Hunter Pence’s reach and Ibanez and Ruiz both scored.
The game broke open in the fifth inning when Howard hit a single and Francisco doubled with Ibanez hitting another single right afterwards. Ibanez was then able to move to the second base and scored another single by Valdez which brought the run count of
the inning to three.
In the sixth inning Angel Sanchez managed to single off Lee and scored two more batters when Carlos Lee hit a home run.
The seventh inning was finished by Lee with an impressive line of 11 strike-outs, three runs and four hits. The four hits were by Angel Sanchez and Carlos Lee. Sanchez’s performance in the game is worth praising given that he is filling in for Clint Barmes
and still managed 4-for-8 against baseballs’ best pitchers, Cliff Lee and Roy Holladay. The Phillies put in one more run when Ibanez walked once again and Ruiz doubled him home.
Placido Polanco threw an error from which the Astros managed a run from a ball that should have ended the top of the eighth inning.
Next the Phillies managed a two-out run when Francisco singled home Polanco from the second base. Before this Jimmy Rollins, Francisco’s on-bat hit a line drive into relief pitcher Fulchino who had his revenge by striking out Rollins.
Jose Contreras came in the ninth inning to a non-save situation. He had no runs, had two strike-outs and gave up two hits which ended the game.
At the end, it can be said the Astros just couldn’t handle Cliff Lee but credit should be given to Carlos Lee and Angel Sanchez who put up an appraisable fight. The Astros had eight hits in the game from which five were by Sanchez and Lee. Michael Bourne
never saw the bases although he did strike-out three times.
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