Lance Berkman caught the entire audience by surprise when, in the top of the first inning, he launched a three-run homer off Roy Halladay to put the Cardinals in front of the Phillies 3-0. It was only three runs, but I don't think a lot of people - particularly the Phillies themselves - anticipated that the Phillies would have to come back.
Shane Victorino Gets Phillies On Board In Fourth
For three innings, they didn't make any progress. Halladay found a groove, but Kyle Lohse set down the first nine Phillies he faced on 23 pitches. Entering the bottom of the fourth, the 3-0 score had held up.
But the Phillies got on the board, and they got on the board in part thanks to a defensive mishap. With one out, Chase Utley ripped a ringing double off the top of the right field fence to give the Phillies their first baserunner. With two outs, Ryan Howard drew a walk. That brought Shane Victorino to the plate as the tying run, and where it looked like the runners would be stranded when Victorino lifted a pop-up into foul territory, third baseman David Freese couldn't make the catch, giving the Phillies new life.
Victorino took advantage of the opportunity. He didn’t wow anybody or anything, but he pulled a ground ball single into left field to score Utley and trim the deficit to 3-1. It went in the books as an unearned run, but, more importantly, it went in the books as a run.
Raul Ibanez subsequently flew out, but now the Phillies have something. And Halladay worked a 1-2-3 fifth while I was writing this. Halladay has retired the last 12 guys he's faced. With Halladay rolling, the Phillies are behind, but they're very much alive.
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