Game 2 didn’t go as planned for the Phillies. Starter Roy Oswalt did not have a good performance, lasting only five innings giving up four runs. He didn’t have good command of his pitches, and was pitching out of trouble throughout his five innings of work.
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo had good control over the Phillies lineup in his first four innings, allowing no runs and just two hits. Then in the 5th inning, the Reds began to make mistakes in the field. With two outs and runner on, Shane Victorino reached base safely on an error by second baseman Brandon Phillips. The next batter, Placido Polanco also reached on an error, this time by third baseman Scott Rolen. It was a routine ground ball that Rolen should have made the play on. It would cost the Reds two runs as Chase Utley singled with the bases loaded to put the Phillies on the board with their first two runs.
In 6th inning with two outs, Reds relief pitchers Arthur Rhodes and Logan Ondrunsek loaded the bases with two outs by hitting batters Carlos Ruiz and Ben Francisco. Victorino then continued his sharp post season play with another patient at-bat, drawing a walk with the bases loaded to make it a one run game.
In the 7th inning, prized rookie Aroldis Chapman began the inning by hitting Chase Utley with a pitch. Several batters later, Reds outfielder Jay Bruce made an embarrassing error in the field, missing a routine fly ball from Jimmy Rollins. The ball rolled behind Bruce, and two runs scored to give the Phillies the lead.
For the second straight game, the Phillies experience in the post season came into play. Despite being down 4-0 in the middle of the game, with a disappointing performance from Roy Oswalt, the Phillies never showed any concern. They kept battling, and eventually the Reds tightened up, made some mistakes, and let a critical game slip away.
The Reds came out of the gates strong, and did what they needed to do. They had a good gameplan for Roy Oswalt, and put the Phillies in an early hole. But they couldn’t sustain their effort, and turned what might have been a critical victory into an ugly defeat.
The Phillies rule. The Eagles drool. The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat.
This is what is known as black friday for reds fans. we were all too familiar with B. friday can you say manny mota & vic davillio until we beat the dodgers in back to back yrs those 2 names have haunted us
Utley was not hit by the pitch, bush league move