October 29, 2008
Pat Bats
The Burrell-Howell matchup wasn't a good one as Pat Burrell just misses a home run, doubling off the wall in center. For the second inning in a row, the Phillies lead off with a double. I'll have to go back and check at some point how many times the Phillies put the leadoff man on in this series.
Maddon allowing Howell to bunt looks like a very bad move right now. Howell is finished.
Update: The replay shows Burrell wasn't running hard, probably thinking he had a home run. He's replaced by a pinch runner and Chad Bradford enters the game for the Rays.
Update: Victorino fails to lay down a bunt on two tries, but he grounds out to second to advance the runner. It may be productive out, but it's another failure to hit with runners in scoring position. The infield is in again.
Update: Pedro Feliz singles up the middle, and with the infield drawn in the Rays have no chance. Twice they've brought the infield in and twice they've been burned. The Phillies lead 4-3.
Update: That's the type of play we expect from Iwamura. Ruiz grounds one up the middle, and Akinori dives and grabs the behind second. He tossed to Bartlett for the force. Romero also grounds to second and the Phillies take a 4-3 lead to the eighth.