We got the pitcher’s duel that we expected. Okay, it wasn’t a 1-0 game with both starters going the distance, but it was pretty good. Cole Hamels allowed two runs over six innings; scattered eight hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out six. CC Sabathia gave up a bunch of hits too, nine, over eight innings. He didn’t walk anyone either, struck out four, but allowed three runs. Not bad, but not good enough.
The Phillies scored first. Carlos Ruiz reached on a two-out single in the top of the third inning and then Jimmy Rollins lifted a fly ball to shallow right-center field. Brett Gardner raced in and dove for it, but he could not make the catch and the ball rolled behind him. Ruiz was waved home. Right fielder Melky Cabrera, picked up the ball and made a good throw to the cut-off man, Robinson Cano. Cano dropped the ball and Ruiz scored easily. It was a careless play on Cano’s part. I don’t know if he would have nailed Ruiz, but it certainly would have been close. Shane Victorino singled Rollins home to make it 2-0.
