After watching Cody Ross and the Giants get the best of Roy Halladay in Game 1 of the NLCS, the Phillies needed Roy Oswalt to come up with a strong start in Game 2 to get them back into the series.
Roy Oswalt, Jimmy Rollins Shine In Phillies’ 6-1 Win Over Giants In NLCS Game 2
Oswalt was up to the task, and Jimmy Rollins gave him plenty of support.
Roy Oswalt allowed one run over eight sparkling innings, and Jimmy Rollins collected four RBI as the Phillies blew a close game open late and took a 6-1 win over the visiting Giants.
The Phillies were able to put Game 1 behind them and get out in front early. After Oswalt made quick work of the Giants in the top of the first, the Phillies forced Jonathan Sanchez to throw 35 pitches in a long and exhausting bottom half that saw Rollins drive in the first run of the game. After two walks and a throwing error loaded the bases, Rollins took a borderline 3-1 fastball from Sanchez down and in for a bases-loaded walk that put the host up 1-0.
The game would remain that way for several innings, as Oswalt continued to cruise, while Sanchez settled down. The Giants would then strike in the top of the fifth, when Cody Ross stepped up and delivered his fourth home run in three games. Ross’ solo blast to left was the first hit that Oswalt allowed on the night, and it evened the score at 1-1.
The deadlock wouldn't last long, however, as the Phillies came right back and restored their one-run lead in the bottom half. Shane Victorino led off against Sanchez with a double down the line, and a pair of sacrifice flies brought him around for the go-ahead run.
Oswalt was able to protect his narrow lead by keeping the Giants off balance, and the score stayed 2-1 until the Phillies were able to blow things open in the seventh. Sanchez was pulled after allowing a leadoff single to Oswalt. A single by Placido Polanco off reliever Ramon Ramirez later drove Oswalt home from second, and even later in the inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Rollins came up against Santiago Casilla and drilled a low fastball off the wall in right-center field. All three runners came around on the double, and a 3-1 nailbiter turned into a 6-1 pseudo-blowout.
Suddenly armed with a comfortable lead, Oswalt came out and escaped a jam in the top of the eighth, his final frame of the night. The final batter he faced was Aubrey Huff, who lined out to center with two on.
Ryan Madson worked around a couple baserunners to keep the Giants scoreless and wrap things up in the ninth.
The win went to Oswalt, who bounced back from a rough NLDS start against the Reds to work eight innings, with three walks and nine strikeouts. The hard-luck loss went to Sanchez, who worked six-plus, with three walks and seven strikeouts. Sanchez was effective, but his rough first inning prevented him from working very deep.
The scene shifts to San Francisco for Tuesday night's Game 3. Cole Hamels will take the hill for Philadelphia, opposing Matt Cain.
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