Posted by Danielle Wilson
Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone! And what a beautiful day for baseball in Clearwater. Vance Worley kicked off this afternoon's game for the Phils with Brandon Morrow on the mound for the Blue Jays.
It didn't take long for the Phils to put up a run, Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff solo homer in the first inning.
Bad luck o' the Irish; Placido Polanco injured his left fourth finger early in this game as he was sliding back to first on a pickoff attempt. He stayed in for the rest of the inning, but left to be evaluated. No confirmation on injury yet.
Vance Worley pitched an outstanding four innings, allowing just three hits, no runs, and striking out four. Jonathan Papelbon followed with a scoreless fifth inning.
With Phillippe Aumont on the mound in the sixth, Eric Thames popped up a sacrifice fly to left field to score Colby Rasmus from third. This tied the ballgame, and it didn't end there for Aumont. He allowed three hits in the inning (one to Ben Francisco), walked two, but made it out of the inning stranding the bases loaded, preserving the tie.
Brian Sanches pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Phils, as did Rick VandenHurk for the Blue Jays.
J.P. Arencibia took David Purvey deep in the eighth inning. So deep that it landed in the Tiki Bar among the green beers being served behind left field. This put the Blue Jays up 2-1. Hector Luna doubled in the bottom of the inning to score Scott Podsednik from third, tying the game.
Brian Bocock, former Phillies minor leaguer went yard against Michael Stutes in the top of the ninth, putting his team up 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, Freddy Galvis tied it up with a rocket of a home run to right field.
The Phillies came back in the tenth, winning the ballgame, 4-3. Hector Luna knocked a single up the middle to score Scott Podsednik from third.
The Phillies will see the Jays again tomorrow in Dunedin at 1:05. Enjoy your St. Patty's day, and please drink responsibly!
