The Philadelphia Phillies unleashed some big hits against the San Francisco Giants and road a strong pitching performance from Roy Oswalt to a 6-1 Game 2 victory, evening the series at one game apiece.
We seemed destined for another pitching duel thriller through six innings as Roy Oswalt and Jonathan Sanchez had a 2-1 ballgame going. However, the seventh inning saw the Phillies break through against the Giants bullpen for four runs to put the game away. A Roy Oswalt leadoff single sent Sanchez to the showers and things unraveled from there.
Ramon Ramirez got an out that advanced Oswalt to second, setting up an intentional walk to Chase Utley. Placido Polanco singled to center to score Oswalt, ending Ramirez's night. Jeremy Affeldt came on and saw the Phillies manage an unchallenged double steal shortly before he struck out Ryan Howard. With first base open the Giants intentionally walked Jayson Werth to set up the force and bring Jimmy Rollins to the plate. The Giants brought in Santiago Casilla to face Rollins and the intentional walk once again bit them in the butt as Rollins hit a bases clearing double to blow the game open 6-1.
That was more than enough run support for Oswalt who was dominant tonight. Oswalt pitched eight innings, striking out nine while walking three and giving up three hits. The single run came on a Cody Ross home run in the fifth inning that snapped four innings of no-hit baseball from Oswalt. However, the Giants offense could manage nothing else the rest of the way.
The two teams have tomorrow off before resuming the series Tuesday at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Matt Cain will face off against Cole Hamels.