Phillies Recap: August 26, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 4, Pittsburgh Pirates 1

Chase Utley got the Phillies off to a good start with a solo home run in the first inning. And then, for a long time, nothing happened. This game was all about Cole Hamels and the Pirates' Paul Maholm, as the two traded goose eggs for most of the game. The Phillies had a late chance to tack on some runs and failed. It came back to bite them as they blew a save for the second straight day, but Ryan Howard rescued them with an extra-inning bomb. In the end, the Phillies pulled out a big win and defeated the Pirates by a final score of 4-1.

Cole Hamels looked good, but not great. He showed better composure and despite allowing a few too many base runners, he picked off a pair and worked out of trouble with a fast ball that was touching 96 at times. As the night went on, Hamels became more efficient which allowed him to go deeper into the ball game. On the night, Hamels went eight shut-out innings giving up seven hits, two walks, and he hit a batter. Hamels had his put-away pitches working tonight and struck out seven. Ryan Madson (6-4) came in for the ninth inning and surrendered a home run to Brandon Moss to blow his fifth save of the season, but hung on for the win.

Coming into the game, Pirates lefty had not allowed a homer to a left-handed batter this season. Though Chase Utley changed that stat, Maholm did a good job shutting down the Phillies lineup. After taking the lead, the Phils rarely threatened him and struggled to reach base. Maholm ended up going seven innings, allowing five hits and the one earned run. He struck out four Phillies and walked two. After Maholm was out of the game, the Phillies hitters did not have much success against a right-handed heavy Pirates bullpen and were held scoreless for two innings. But in the 10th inning, Ryan Howard obliterated a three-run homer to right field off of lefty Phil Dumatrait (0-1).

Tonight was all about Cole Hamels getting back on track. He wasn't lights out, but he pitched well enough to keep the Pirates off the board for eight innings. It was a great relief for both Hamels and the Phillies to see their top-end starter finally have a quality start. The Phillies offense didn't really show up but fortunately in extra innings, Ryan Howard did. The Phillies will go for the series win tomorrow night against the Pirates.